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THE 


Best Christmas Book 


RECITATIONS, DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, 
PLAYS, DRILLS, ACTION PIECES, 
TABLEAUX, PANTOMIMES, SONGS AND 
MUSIC, FACTS 


EDITED BY 

JOSEPH G SINDELAR id. 

rt — 

AUTHOR OB 

Merry Christmas Entertainments 
Nixie Bunny in Manners-Land 
Nixie Bunny in Workaday-Land 
Nixie Bunny in-Holiday-Land 
Nixie Bunny in Faraway-Lands 
Morning Exercises for All the Year 
Father Thrift and His Animal Friends 
Best Memory Gems 



BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
CHICAGO 



Copyright, 1913, by 
JOSEPH C. SINDELAR 


T N 4 - 305 " 

. C, 5 * 5 54- 

dopy h, 


Transferred 
from Copyright 

DEC 16 1341 



Thanks are due Marie Irish, Harriette Wilbur, and Thos. B. Weaver for the 
fresh and excellent material which each furnished. Grateful acknowledg¬ 
ments are also made for Christmas selections which have been gathered 
from numerous sources. In cases where unintentional infringements have 
been made, sincere apologies are tendered. J. C. S. 


MADE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


CONTENTS 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


All He Wants. 

Around the Christmas Lamp 

As We Look Up. 

Choicest Tree, The. 

Christmas. 

Christmas Carol, A. 

Christmas Carol, A. 

Christmas Carol, The. 

Christmas Cheer. 

Christmas Company. 

Christmas Day. 

Christmas Dialogue. 

Christmas Gift, A. 

Christmas Gifts. 

Christmas Greeting. 

Christmas Greeting, A. 

Christmas in the Heart 
Christmas in the Heart. ... 
Christmas in the North .... 

Christmas Jingle, A. 

Christmas Joy... 

Christmas Joys. 

Christmas Morning. 

Christmas Night. 

Christmas Peace, The. 

Christmas Pines. 

Christmas Quest, The. 

Christmas Quiz, A. 

Christmas Quotations. 

Christmas Secret, A. 

Christmas Sleepy-Head, A .. 

Christmas Song, A. 

Christmas Sound, A. 

Christmas Spirit, The. 

Christmas Stocking, A. 


page 

. 28 

.J. L. Moiloy 17 

. Grace E. Craig 37 

. 27 

. .. William Cullen Bryant 45 

. Christian Burke 42 

. Sarah Teasdale 40 

- Margaret E. Sangster 53 

. 57 

Harriet Whitney Symonds 16 
....Margaret E. Sangster 52 

. 26 

. Susie M. Best 17 

. Phoebe Cary 26 

. Alice E. Allen 9 

. 30 

..... 14 

.. .Laura Hoolcer 33 

... .Margaret E. Sangster 46 

. Susie M. Best 15 

. Cora L. Hazard 47 

. Frank H. Sweet 25 

. Joaquin Miller 43 

. 29 

.. Teresa Beatrice 0 ’Hara 20 

. 12 

. Isabel E. Mackay 39 

. 12 

.53, 54, 55, 56, 111 

. 15 

..*. 11 

. 7 

. 13 

. 23 

. 12 


3 





































4 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Christmas Story, The. 20 

Christmas Telephone, A..*.. Alice E. Allen 7 

Christmas Thought, A. Lucy Larcom 41 

Christmas Tree, The. 23 

Christmas Tree, The. 24 

Christmas Truth, A. 24 

Christmas Wish, A. 19 

Christmas Wish, A. 22 

Christmas Wish, A. Celia Thaxter 40 

Crippled Dolly, The. Marie Irish 34 

December. Frank D. Sherman 30 

Eyes of the Christmas Tree, The. Alice E. Allen 10 

First Christmas, The. 38 

Gifts for the King.,.. 20 

God’s Only Son. Rose Terry 31 

Good Boy, A. Marie Irish 36 

Happy Christmas Time. Laila Mitchell 28 

His Letter. T. B. Weaver 7 

Hurrah for Christmas!. Aimee Cary 47 

Tf You’re Good. 18 

Jimmie’s Letter to Santa. 13 

Kris Kringle. 50 

Little Speeches for Little Speakers. T. B. Weaver 8 

Magic Month, The. .. Gelett Burgess 49 

Merry Christmas Day. 49 

Merry Christmas to All, A. 48 

Message of Christmas, The. Phila Butler Bowman 32 

My Christmas Wish. Frances Ridley Havergal 11 

No Stockings to Wear. 34 

O, Christmas Tree. Mary Bailey 45 

Outside . 43 

St. Nick’s Visit. 25 

Shoe or Stocking 1 ?. Edith M. Thomas 21 

Sing a Song of Christmas. Edith Virginia Bradt 19 

Then and Now. ... Adelaide Procter 44 

Toys He Doesn’t Like, The. . 8 

Turkey ‘s Lament, The... 0 .«. . 14 

Waits, The. . Margaret I)eland 38 

What the Stocking Said. 32 










































CONTENTS 


5 


When Christmas Comes. . 
When Christmas Comes .., 
When Santa Claus Comes 
When Santa Claus Comes 
When We Speak Pieces .. 
Why? . 


PAGE 

. 37 

Margaret E. Sangster 51 

. T. B. Weaver 9 

. 27 

. Alice E. Allen 10 

. 32 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 

Easy Christmas Shopping. Marie Irish 61 

Making Christmas Presents. Marie Irish 59 

Miss Prim's Christmas Shopping .Marie Irish 63 

Santa Claus's Assistant .John Kendrick Bangs 66 

DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 
Christmas Customs in Many Lands. Fourteen boys or girls.. 

. Harriette Wilbur 127 

Christmas Doings. Four girls. 90 

Christmas Lesson, A. Six girls and five boys. Marie Irish 69 

Christmas Month, The. Thirty-two children. .Harriette Wilbur 109 
Christmas Plots. Three girls and three boys ... .Marie Irish 120 
Father Christmas and His Family. Fourteen boys and eleven 

girls. Harriette Wilbur 91 

Favorite Tree, The. Three boys. Laura F. Armitage 73 

Mother Goose’s Christmas. Eight boys, nine girls. .Marie Irish 74 
Squire Hawley's Christmas. Six boys, five girls.. .Marie Irish 82 

Trouble in Santa-Claus Land. Five boys and three girls. 

. Marie Irish 103 

FANCY DRILLS AND MARCHES 

Christmas Dolls. Six boys and six girls. Marie Irish 135 

Christmas Toys on Parade. Ten boys and ten girls. 

. Harriette Wilbur 141 

Dance of the Christmas Candies. Twelve girls and one boy.. 

. Harriette Wilbur 154 

Dance of the Christmas Stockings, The. Eight girls, or four 

boys and four girls. Harriette Wilbur 152 

Holly Wreaths, The. Six girls. Harriette Wilbur 163 

March of the Christmas Trees, The. Eight boys and eight 

girls. ..Harriette Wilbur 158 

Merry Christmas. Fourteen children. Harriette Wilbur 147 



























6 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

ACROSTICS AND MOTION SONGS 

Christmas Lullaby, A. Any number of little girls. 138 

Christmas Tree, The. Ten children. 137 

Merry Christmas. Fourteen children. 148 

Sing a Song of Christmas. Any number.. .Marie Irish 139 

TABLEAUX 

At Christmas Time. Marie Irish 171 

Bessie’s Christmas Dream. Marie Irish 171 

Christmas Scenes. Marie Irish 172 

PANTOMIMES AND PANTOMIMED SONGS 

Newsboy Tim. Any number. Marie Irish 174 

Sally’s Christmas. Five girls and one boy. Marie Irish 176 

Good Santa Claus. Several children. Marie Irish 180 

Merry Christmas Day. Any number of girls. Marie Irish 179 

SONGS AND MUSIC 

Candy Song. Harriette Wilbur 156 

Christmas Bells. Thos. B. Weaver 184 

Christmas Day. 185 

Christmas Time. Thos. B. Weaver 183 

Father Christmas. Howitt-Mozart 102 

Hanging the Stockings. Marie Irish 172 

Happiest Christmas Day, The. Thos. B. Weaver 188 

Holly and the Ivy, The. 165 

Hurrah for the Christmas Tree !. Wallace-Lowry 161 

Merry Christmas. 151 

Merry Christmas. . . Thos. B. Weaver 190 

Oh, Won’t You Be Glad!. Marie Irish 137 

Sing the Holly. Bellini 168 

Voice of Christmas-Tide, The. Rossini 110 

When Santa Claus Comes. Thos. B. Weaver 186 

FACTS REGARDING CHRISTMAS 

Christmas Customs in Many Lands. Harriette Wilbur 127 

Christmas Questions Answered. 191 

Old English Christmases. 191 































Tfie" Best 
Christmas Book* 

RECITATIONS & QUOTATIONS 



A CHRISTMAS SONG 

Sing a song of Christmas; 

A stocking full of toys; 

Such a lot of presents, 

For all good girls and boys; 
When the stocking’s opened, 
The presents you shall see— 
Isn’t that a merry time 
For little ones like me? 


A CHRISTMAS TELEPHONE 

Alice E. Allen 

I wish I had a telephone 
With golden wires unfurl’d, 

And long enough and strong enough 
To reach around the world— 

I’d ring up everybody 
Along the line and say, 

‘* A very Merry Christmas 
To you this Christmas Day!” 

7 


$ 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


THE TOYS HE DOESN’T LIKE 

I have 130 use for iron toys, 

Or linen books—can’t bear ’em; 
They’re aggravating things for boys, 
For I can’t break or tear ’em. 


LITTLE SPEECHES FOR LITTLE SPEAKERS 

T. B. Weaver 

His Letter 

I wrote a neat little letter to jolly Saint Nick; 

Neither papa nor mamma could read it—that’s true; 
I could read it right off, very easy and quick. 

I think I’m much smarter than they are; don’t you? 


What Santa Calls Him 

When Santa asked me for my name, down at the store, I 
said: 

“My papa calls me Sorrel-top because my hair is red; 

But grandpa calls me Skeezicks; my mamma calls me Joy; 
And grandma calls me Bub sometimes; I call myself a 
Boy.” 

Then Santa smiled, took off my cap, and looked at me and 
said: 

“I understand it all, my boy, and I shall call you Bed.” 


How Santa Claus Looks 

The Santa Claus Tom Brown once saw, he said was tall 
and slim; 

The one I saw down at the store didn’t look at all like him; 
The one at our house Christmas-time looked just like any 
man; 

1 can’t explain just how this is—perhaps the big folks can. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


9 


When Santa Claus Comes 

Have you seen dear Santa Claus anywhere to-day ? 

I should be so very glad if he’d come this way: 

When I see him I shall say with a bow like this, 1 
If you will my stocking fill you shall have a kiss. 

Have you seen dear Santa Claus anywhere to-day ? 

I should be so very glad if he’d come this way; 

When I see him I shall say with a smile like this, 2 
If you will my stocking fill you shall have a kiss. 

Have you seen dear Santa Claus anywhere to-day ? 

I should be so very glad if he’d come this way; 

When I see him I shall say with a hose like this. 3 
If you will my stocking fill you shall have a kiss. 

CHRISTMAS GREETING 

Alice E. Allen 

For three children or three groups of children, with greens, bells, and 
Christmas cards. 

First: 

If we could have all the Christmas greens, 

An d into one wreath could string them; 

Second : 

If we could have all the Christmas bells, 

And into one song could riijg them; 

Third : 

If we could have all good wishes abroad 
And into one word could bring them— 

All: 

Greens wouldn’t be cheer enough, 

Bells wouldn’t be clear enough, 

No word could be dear enough 
To carry our Greeting to you! 


1 Makes a pretty bow. 

2 Makes a pretty smile. 

8 Holds up a very large stocking which had been concealed until now. 



4C THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOO** 

WHEN WE SPEAK PIECES 

Alice E. Allen 

A Stitch in Time 

For little girl mending Dolly’s stocking. 

My needle is threaded; I’ve put on my thimble, 

It’s almost her bed-time—so I must be nimble— 

For Santa Claus surely would think it quite shocking 
Should he find this hole in poor Dolly’s stocking! 

The Eyes of the Christmas Tree 

Maybe the candles 
Dancing with glee 
Are the twinkling eyes 
Of the Christmas Tree. 

And maybe it sees 
As plain as can be 
How happy it makes us— 

You and me! 

A Touch of Christmas 

0 little brown nest out there in the hedge, 

Christmas has blessed even you from his store, 
Though snowflakes have filled you quite up to the edge, 
A bunch of bright berries hangs over your door. 

Best of All 

From out its wreaths so bright and big 
There fell a shining holly sprig, 

With cheery little rustling sound 
One of my story-books it crown’d. 

I looked to see which one it chose— 

Now, which of all would you suppose? 

There, in the dusk of Christmas dim, 

It rested over Tiny Tim. 

—Primary Education 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


A CHRISTMAS SLEEPY-HEAD 

“To bed, to bed,” said Sleepy-Head, 
‘ ‘ Each night in all the year, 
Except the wondrous Christmas eve; 

’Tis then I ’d like to hear 
The patter of the reindeer hoofs; 

The noise within the hall. 

I wish to stay up all that night, 

Nor go to bed at all! 

But, no! they tuck me safely in 
And take away the light— 

And the very next thing that I see is 
My stockings filled up tight! ’ * 


A CHRISTMAS WISH 

So it happens every year— 
Always has, as yet— 

Such a lot of things we want, 
And so few we get. 

Always happens; always will; 

Don’t know who’s to blame. 
Wish you all a very merry 
Christmas, just the same. 


MY CHRISTMAS WISH 

Frances Ridley Havergal 

A bright and blessed Christmas Day, 
With echoes of the angel’s song; 

And peace that cannot pass away; 

And holy gladness, calm and strong; 
And sweet heart carols, flowing free! 
This is my Christmas Wish to thee! 


12 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


THE CHRISTMAS PINES 

Lovely, lovely, lovely pine trees, 

All laden now with snow; 

Old Santa Clans will need some helpers. 
When the stormy north winds blow; 
Oh, spread out your branches; 

Come, sing now if you please; 

Happy, happy times are coming, 

And you will be Christmas trees. 


A CHRISTMAS QUIZ 

In all the Santa Claus pictures 
I’ve seen in my little day, 

He’s guiding across the snow-drifts 
A reindeer before a sleigh. 

And this is the thing about him 
I’d really like to know: 

Does he travel in a wagon 
When there isn’t any snow ? 


A CHRISTMAS STOCKING 

The funniest stocking that ever was made 
Was woven up there in our elm-branches * shade; 

They worked all day long while the blue sky was shining 
Until it was done. Then they put in a lining, 

And—what did the birds and their wee babies do 
But live in that stocking the whole summer through! 
Then flew off and left it, still swaying and rocking, 
And waiting for Christmas, the oriole’s stocking. 

Now, if I were Santa, I’d know what they need, 

I’d drive up and fill that long stocking with seed! 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


13 


A CHRISTMAS SOUND 

When next the eve of Christmas 
All rosily comes round, 

Just listen, dear, and you will hear 
The joiliest little sound; 

The pit, pat, pit, pat, patter 
Of feet so small and bare— 

A whole quintillion hanging socks 
For Santa everywhere. 


JIMMIE’S LETTER TO SANTA 

Dear Santa Claus: If you could bring 
A patent doll to dance and sing; 

A five-pound box of caramels; 

A set of reins with silver bells; 

An elephant that roars and walks; 

A Brownie droll that laughs and talks; 
A humming top that I can spin; 

A desk to keep my treasures in; 

A boat or two that I can sail; 

A dog to bark and wag his tail; 

A pair of little bantam chicks; 

A chest of tools, a box of tricks; 

A scarlet suit of soldier togs; 

A Noah’s ark of cats and dogs; 

A bicycle and silver w T atch; 

A pound or two of butter-scotch; 

A small toy farm with lots of trees; 

A gun to load with beans and peas; 

An organ and a music-box; 

A double set of building-blocks— 

If you will bring me these, I say, 

Before the coming of the day, 

1 sort of think perhaps that I’d 
Be pretty nearly satisfied. 


14 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART 

It is Christmas in the mansion, 
Yule-log fires and silken frocks; 
It is Christmas in the cottage, 
Mothers filling little socks; 

It is Christmas on the highway, 

In‘the thronging, busy mart; 
But the dearest, truest Christmas 
Is the Christmas in the heart. 


THE TURKEY’S LAMENT 

A merry Christmas, did you say ? 

I wonder how you’d feel 
If you were going to be killed 
To make a Christmas meal! 

Why can’t you eat nice fresh green grass ? 

Or feed upon some hay? 

I’m sure it would be quite as good, 

And more humane, I say. 

The ducks and geese upon the farm 
All quite agree with me; 

And think it time to put a stop 
To such barbarity. 

We talked together late last night, 

And think the wisest plan 
Would be for us to take your place, 

And just to kill a man. 

And then perhaps you’d understand 
A little how we feel, 

And vegetarian diet choose, 

To make your Christmas meal. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


15 


A CHRISTMAS JINGLE 

Susie M. Best 
Clack, click, clack; 

It’s Santa Claus and his great big pack! 

Click, clack, click; 

Oh, how awful if he should stick! 

Skop, skip, skop; 

What if he and his pack should drop! 

Skip, skop, skip; 

He must be black from toe to tip! 

Clang, cling, clang; 

Look, look, look, where the stockings hang! 

Cling, clang, cling; 

Hear the bells on his reindeer ring! 

Ha, ho, ha; 

We won’t tell what it was we saw! 

Ho, ha, ho; 

We’ve found out and we know; we know! 


A CHRISTMAS SECRET 

Christmas is a time of secrets, 

So I ’ll whisper one to you; 

Grandpa says that all who try it 
Find that every word is true: 

“Would you have a happy day? 

Give some happiness away.” 

Grandpa says this little secret 

Should be carried through the year; 
And if all would try to heed it 
Earth would soon be full of cheer. 
“Would you have a happy day? 

Give some happiness away.” 


16 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


CHRISTMAS COMPANY 

Harriet Whitney Symonds 

I ’h tarrible busy, I tell you, an ’ haven’t a minute to play, 

So, dollies, my dear little children, I ’ll just haf to tuck you 
away 

An’ leave you to ’muse one another (I know you won’t quar¬ 
rel nor fight), 

’Cause company’s cornin’ for Christmas, an’ mebby the’ll 
get here to-night— 

An auto-car cram-full of kinfolks, now what do yo think 
about that? 

We’re all in gret splutteration, from Grampa clean down to 
the cat. 

The’s bushels of cookin’ to ’tend to; it’s startin’ in now— 
you can tell 

By the simmery sounds in the kitchen, an’ sniffin’s of nut- 
meggy smell. 

An’ all Granny’s crimpy tin cutters are set in a shiny- 
bright row; 

We’re gonto cut flowers an’ fishes an’ birds out of ginger¬ 
bread dough, 

An’ a fat cooky-bear for the baby—the one that we never 
did see, 

’Cause it’s nearly bran-new, but they’ve named it Clarissy, 
for Granny an’ me. 

The mince-meat’s all chopped; I helped Granny to make it, 
an ’ wasn’t it fun! 

I seeded the raisins an’ currants, an’ sampled it when it 
was done, 

An’ children as true as you’re livin’, it tasted just like it 
was made 

Of clover an’ honey an’ peaches an’ pansies that grow in 
the shade. 

My Uncle Josiah is fixing to go after cedar an’ pine 

Right now, an’ I got to go with him an’ hunt for some bit¬ 
tersweet vine 



RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 17 

An ? holly with shiny red berries to hang on the mantel an’ 
wall, 

For yon know that to-morrow is Christmas, the loveliest 
Birthday of all. 

The house must be put into order, with everything spicky- 
an ’-span; 

My aunties an’ Huldy are sweepin’ an’ dustin’ as fast as 
they can; 

So, dollies, be good little children, an’ don’t get to frettin’ 
for me; 

You see, on the day before Christmas, how busy your 
muvver must be! 


A CHRISTMAS GIFT 

Susie M. Best 

A Christmas tree for you I’ve brought, 
On every branch you’ll see 
A loving wish, a kindly thought, 

A prayer that you may be 
As happy as the birds of May 
Upon this gracious Christmas Day. 


AROUND THE CHRISTMAS LAMP 

J. L. Molloy 

The wind may shout as it likes without; 

It may rage, but cannot harm us; 

For a merrier din shall resound within, 

And our Christmas cheer will warm us. 
Thera is gladness to all at its ancient call, 
While its ruddy fires are gleaming, 

And from far and near, o’er landscape drear. 
The Christmas light is streaming. 


\s 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


IF YOU’RE GOOD 

Santa Claus will come to-night, 
If you ’re good, 

And do what you know is right, 
As you should. 

Down the chimney he will creep, 
Bringing you a woolly sheep, 
And a doll that goes to sleep, 

If you ’re good. 


Santa Claus will drive his sleigh 
Through the wood, 

But he’ll come around this way, 
If you’re good, 

With a wind-up bird that sings, 
And a puzzle made of rings; 

He will bring you cars that go, 

If you ’re good 


Jumping-jacks and funny things, 

If you’re good, 

And a rocking-horse, Oh, oh! 

If you’re good. 

And a dolly that can sneeze; 

That says “Mamma!” when you squeeze; 
He’ll bring you one of these, 

If youire good. 


Santa grieves when you are bad. 
As he should; 

But it makes him very glad 
When you ’re good; 

He is wise and he’s a dear; 

Just do right and never fear; 
He’ll remember you each year, 
If you’re good. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


19 


SING A SONG OF CHRISTMAS 

Edith Virginia Bradt 

Sing a song of Christmas, 

Gladdest day of all; 

0 ’er the hills and valleys 
See the splendor fall. 

Sing of gleaming holly; 

Sing of mistletoe; 

Sing a song of Christmas 
Everywhere yon go. 

Sing a song of Christmas, 

. Holy, happy day; 

Sing of Bethlehem’s manger, 

Where the Christ-Child lay. 

Sing of love unbounded— 

“Peace, goodwill to men.” 

Sing a song of Christmas 
O’er and o’er again. 

Sing a song of Christmas; 

E’en on this glad day 

There are griefs and heartaches 
All along the way— 

Hearts that wait the uplift 
Of your note of cheer; 

Sing a song of Christmas, 

Strong and sweet and clear. 

A CHRISTMAS WISH 

A happy, happy Christmas 

Be yours to-day! 

Oh, not the failing measure 
Of fleeting earthly pleasure, 

But Christmas joy abiding, 

While years are swiftly gliding, 

Be yours, I pray, 

Through Him who gave us Christmas Day! 


20 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


THE CHRISTMAS PEACE 

Teresa Beatrice O’Hara 

Because a little Child was born 
The earth is filled with peace; 

Old wrongs, old sorrows are forgot 
In suffering’s sweet surcease. 

Oh, men that strain for empty gain; 

Oh, hearts with hatreds torn; 
There is no room for strife to-day; 
A little Child is born! 


GIFTS FOR THE KING 

The wise may bring their learning; 

The rich may bring their wealth; 
And some may bring their greatness; 

And some bring strength and health. 
We, too, would bring our treasures, 

To offer to the King; 

We have no wealth nor learning; 

What shall we children bring ? 

We’ll bring Him hearts that love Him; 

We’ll bring Him thankful praise; 
And young souls meekly striving 
To walk in holy ways; 

And these shall be the treasures 
We offer to the King; 

And these are gifts that even 
The poorest child may bring. 


THE CHRISTMAS STORY 

The brightest tale of Christmas 
The world will ever know 
Was told one radiant morning, 
Long ages, dears, ago. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


21 


The shades of night had fallen, 
Just as they fell to-day; 

But morning brought a sunshine 
That never passed away. 

For, in a lowly manger, 

A wondrous life had birth; 

A life so pure and gentle 
It gladdened all the earth. 

That life is our best sunshine, 

In lessons, or in play; 

’Tis well we should remember 
The Child of Christmas Day. 


SHOE OR STOCKING? 

Edith M. Thomas 

In Holland, children set their shoes, 
This night, outside the door; 

These wooden shoes Knecht Clobes sees, 
And fills them from his store. 

But here we hang our stockings up 
On handy hook, or nail; 

And Santa Claus, when all is still, 

Will plump them, without fail. 

Speak out! you ‘ ‘ Sobersides , 9 9 speak out! 
And let us hear your views; 

Between a stocking and a shoe, 

What do you see to choose? 

One instant pauses Sobersides, 

A little sigh to fetch— 

“Well, seems to me, a stocking’s best, 
For wooden shoes won’t stretch! ’ ? 


22 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


A CHRISTMAS WISH 

I'd like a stocking made for a giant, 
And a meeting-house full of toys; 
Then I’d go out in a happy hunt 
For poor little girls and boys; 

Up the street and down the street, 
And across and over the town, 

I’d search and find them every one, 
Before the sun went down. 


One would want a little jack-knife, 
Sharp enough to cut; 

One would long for a doll with hair, 
And eyes that open and shut; 

One would ask for a china set, 

With dishes all to her mind; 

One would wish a Noah’s ark, 

With beasts of every kind. 


Some would like a doll’s cook-stove, 
And a little toy wash-tub; 

Some would prefer a little drum 
For a noisy rub-a-dub-dub; 

Some would wish for a story-book, 
And some for a set of blocks; 
Some would be wild with happiness, 
Over a nice tool-box. 


And some would rather have little shoes, 
And other things warm to wear; 

For many children are very poor, 

And the winter is hard to bear; 

I’d buy soft flannels for little frocks, 
And a thousand stockings or so; 

And the jolliest little coats and cloaks, 
To keep out the frost and snow. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


23 


I’d load a wagon with caramels, 

And candy of every kind; 

And buy all the almonds and pecan nuts, 

And taffy, that I could find; 

And barrels and barrels of oranges, 

I’d scatter right in the way, 

So the children would find them the very first thing 
When they woke on Christmas Day. 


THE CHRISTMAS TREE 

Of all the trees that swing to the breeze, 
From the mountains down to the sea, 

Not one to-night gives such delight 
As the beautiful Christmas tree. 

Like apples of gold its fruit behold, 
With promises for all; 

On Christmas night they all are ripe, 
And ready quite to fall. 

We’ll strip the fruit from top to root, 
Till none thereon appear; 

Then home we ’ll go, for more to grow 
Before another year. 


THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT 

Unless we remember the lowly, 

Whose pleasures are few and small, 
We deserve not to be included 
In the Christmas joy at all. 

For it was they whom the Christ-Child 
Most lovingly sought to aid; 

And he’ll have the brightest Christmas, 
Who has some sacrifice made! 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


THE CHRISTMAS TREE 

Colored popcorns on a string; 

Canary birds which do not sing; 

Little candles dribbling wax; 

Bangles, spangles, jumping-jacks; 
Jacks-in-boxes, rubber toys; 

China cupids, mostly boys; 

Fancy gewgaws, globes of glass; 
Children's watches, made of brass; 

Cheap tin horses, sheep and goats; 

Paper dolls and wooden boats; 

Lots of toys which go on wheels; 

A ball which, when you squeeze it, squeals: 
Tinsel tassels just for show; 

A candy clock which doesn’t go; 

Rosy apples, gilded nuts; 

A pocket-knife which never cuts; 

Horns of plenty, full of candy: 

Tooting horns for Bill and Andy; 

A drum for Tom, for Sis a sled; 

A dandy pair of skates for Fred; 

A red necktie for dear old Dad— 

The prettiest one he ever had; 

A handkerchief for mamma, too; 

And a sachet-bag for Sister Lou; 

All these things and plenty more, 

On the tree and on the floor. 


A CHRISTMAS TRUTH 

In prickly green of Christmas wreaths 
The holly berries glow; 

The Christmas trees will sparkle soon. 
With Christmas fruit bent low. 

And here’s a thought will help us all 
At happy Christmas-tide: 

The very best of pleasures are 
The pleasures we divide. 


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CHRISTMAS JOYS 

Frank H. Sweet 

Ho ! ho! thrice ho ! for the mistletoe; 

Ho! for the Christmas holly; 

And ho! for the merry boys and girls, 
Who make the day so jolly. 

And ho! for the deep, new-fallen snow; 

For the lace-work on each tree; 

And ho! for the joyous Christmas bells, 
That ring so merrily. 


ST. NICK’S VISIT 

Upon the housetop the reindeers pause; 

Out jumps dear old Santa Claus; 

Down through the chimney with loads of toys a 
All for the children’s Christmas joys. 

First are the stockings of little Nell; 

Ah! good Santa, fill them well; 

Give her a dolly that laughs and cries; 

One that will open and shut its eyes. 

Next are the stockings of little Will; 

0, isn’t that a glorious fill! 

A hammer, a gimlet, and lots of tacks; 

A whistle, a whirligig, and a whip that cracks. 

Papa and Mamma and Grandma, too; 

All, I declare, have something new. 

Even the baby enjoys his part— 

Shaking a rattle-box; bless his heart. 

Rover, come here, are you all alone ? 

Haven’t they tossed you an extra bone? 
Here’s one to gladden your honest jaws— 
Now, wag a “thank you” to Santa Claus. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


A CHRISTMAS DIALOGUE 


First Child: 

I wonder why we make fine gifts 
Each year at Christmas-time; 

Who first gave presents? Can you tell? 
And in what year and clime ? 

Second Child : 

Yes, long ago, when Christ was born, 
Three wise kings from afar 

Came on their camels o’er the plains, 
Led by a wondrous star. 

They journeyed on to Bethlehem, 

To where the young child lay; 

They laid their presents at his feet. 

Then softly went away. 

And since that time, so long ago, 

We, like those kings of old, 

Bring precious gifts to those we love, 
More precious far than gold. 


CHRISTMAS GIFTS 

Phoebe Cary 

Sweetly Christmas bells are ringing 
Through the morning air; 

Peace and joy, good tidings bringing 
Gladness everywhere. 

For little children everywhere 
A joyous season now we make; 
We bring our precious gifts to them 
For the dear child Jesus’ sake. 


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27 


THE CHOICEST TREE 

If desired, sixteen children may speak this, each reciting a line, and all 

joining in the last two. 

The apple is a great old tree, with boughs all loaded down; 

The oak is fine as it can be, with acorns, ripe and brown; 

The grand old cottonwood sends out its sailboats far and 
wide; 

The elm has lovely, sweeping boughs that droop on every 
side; 

The cherry give us ripe, red fruit; the robins love it, too; 

There’s no one loves the walnut tree as much as children do! 

The tall catalpa sends its blooms, like snow upon the grass; 

The hawthorn rains its scarlet fruit on all who chance to 
pass. 

The maple spreads its branches far—all crimson in the fall; 

The plum-tree ripens golden fruit, enough for one and all ; 

The butternut is bending down, if you but chance to look; 

The willow spreads its feathery boughs to hide the wood¬ 
land brook. 

The pear-tree serves us each with fruit that’s golden ripe 
and sweet; 

The stout box-elder spreads its boughs to shade the busy 
street; 

The hickory drops its nuts to make the children dance and 
shout. 

The birches just like dainty maids sway prettily about. 

But one tree is the best beloved by all the girls and boys, 

And that’s the candle-lighted tree that bears the Christmas 
toys. 


WHEN SANTA CLAUS COMES 

Merrily, merrily, merrily, oh! 

The reindeer prance across the snow; 
We hear their tinkling silver bells, 
Whose merry music softly tells 
Old Santa Claus is coming. 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 

Merrily, merrily, merrily, oh! 

The evergreens in the woodland grow; 
They rustle gently in the breeze; 

Oh, don’t you think the Christmas trees 
Know Santa Claus is coming? 

Merrily, merrily, merrily, oh! 

We’ve hung our stockings in a row; 

Into our beds we softly creep, 

Just shut our eyes and go to sleep— 
And wait—for Santa Claus is coming. 


HAPPY CHRISTMAS TIME 

Laila Mitchell 

0, merry is the Christmas time, 

With holly berries bright; 

With festal board and treasures stored 
In stockings soft and white. 

And blessed is the Christmas time, 

With music such as rang 

A glorious strain o’er Bethlehem’s plain, 
When angel voices sang. 

0, joyful is the Christmas time, 

Each heart from grief beguiled; 

But all the year hath Christmas cheer 
For him that loves a child. 


ALL HE WANTS 

Don’t want much for Christmas; 

Just some wooden blocks; 

Dozen pounds o’ candy 
Done up in a box; 

And a bag of marbles; 

And a lot of books; 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


29 


And a pole for fishing, 

Lines, and several hooks; 

Three or four small steamboats; 

Ten or twenty cents; 

And a small, toy farmyard 
Surrounded by a fence; 

One small bowling alley; 

A suit of soldier clo ’es; 
Music-box, an organ; 

Punch and Judy shows; 

Bow and arrow; also, 

Possibly, a gun; 

And a putty-blower 
Would be lots of fun; 

Elephants and lions 

That would walk and roar, 
After being winded, 

Up and down the floor. 

These, and several others, 
Hanging on the tree, 

I’ve a sort of notion’d 
Be enough for me. 


CHRISTMAS NIGHT 

Once within a lowly stable, 

Where the sheep and oxen lay, 

A loving mother laid her baby, 

In a manger filled with hay. 

Mary was that mother dear, 

And the Christ that baby fair. 

God sent us this loving baby, 

From His home in heaven above; 

He came down to show all people 
How to help and how to love. 

This is why the angels bright. 

Sang for joy on Christmas night. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


A CHRISTMAS GREETING 

We’ve met to celebrate Christmas, 

The happiest day of all; 

To sing of our blest Redeemer, 

Born in a lowly stall. 

Again we ’ll tell the story, 

Of shepherds who watched by night; 

Of the angel host whose glory 

E’en dimmed the lone Star’s light. 

We’ve met to celebrate Christmas, 

The birthday of our King; 

For this is the time to be merry, 

To joyfully speak and sing. 

So, welcome, friends; we greet you, 
Young, old, the great and small. 

Next year we hope to meet you 
Again in our festive hall. 


DECEMBER 

Frank D. Sherman 

December’s come, and with her brought 
A world in whitest marble wrought; 

The trees and fence and all the posts 
Stand motionless and white as ghosts, 
And all the paths we used to know 
Are hidden in the drifts of snow . 

December brings the longest night, 

And cheats the day of half its light. 

No songbird breaks the perfect hush; 
No meadow-brook with liquid gush 
Runs telling tales in babbling rhyme 
Of liberty and summer time. 


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31 


Breathe once upon the window glass, 

And see the mimic mists that pass 
Fantastic shapes that go and come 
Forever silvery and dumb. 

December Santa Claus shall bring,— 

Of happy children, happy king— 

Who with his sleigh and reindeer stops 
At all good people’s chimney tops. 

Then let the holly red be hung, 

And all the sweetest carols sung, 

While we with joy remember them 

The journeyers to Bethlehem 

Who followed, trusting from afar 

The guidance of that happy star 

Which marked the spot where Christ was born 

Long years ago, one Christmas morn. 


GOD’S ONLY SON 

Kose Terry 

On Christmas day, far, far away. 

A little babe slumbering lay; 

Starlight was shed upon His bed 
An d around His fair and lowly head. 

The angels sung; the blue sky rung; 

And all the earth looked bright and young; 
’Twas God’s own Son came down alone, 

To make our little souls His own. 

Dear Lord above, teach me thy love; 

Make me Thy gentle, spotless dove— 

To find my nest within thy breast, 

And there in peace and safety rest. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


WHAT THE STOCKING SAID 

All day long we carry toes— 
To-night we carry candy! 

Christmas comes but once a year, 
And then we are so handy! 

Boots and little tired shoes— 

We kick ’em off in glee— 

It is fun to hang up here 
And Santa Claus to see. 

Christmas morning down we come— 
The sweet things tumble out. 

And then we carry toes again, 

And have to trot about. 


WHY? 

Last Christmas-time so many gifts I had- - 
Enough to make a score of children glad; 

Not half so many gifts I have to-day— 

A dozen presents I have given away; 

I wonder who can make the puzzle clear— 
I’m so much happier than I was last year. 


THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS 

Phila Butler Bowman 

Only a Song in the calm of the night 
But the dreamer awakened in joy. 

And shepherds in ecstasy knelt at the sight 
Of angels borne down from the gateway of Light 
To herald blest Bethlehem’s Boy. 


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33 


Only a Star on the face of the night 
Where the feet of the faithful pressed on; 

But it lighted the dark of the on-rushing years, 

It parted the mists of Earth’s heartaches and fears, 
As over Judea it shone. 

Only a Cry in the heart of the night, 

But the Mother-heart heard it, and thrilled; 

And Earth, at the sound of that faint infant voice. 
Called out to the Moon and the Stars to rejoice, 

For God’s greatest pledge was fulfilled. 

Only a Bell through the hush of the night, 

But the feet of the hurrying cease. 

The lover, the scorner, the grave, and the gay 
Pause, harking the truths that the Christmas bells say, 
And blessing their message of peace. 

For the Song of the angels, the light of the Star, 

The Voice of the incarnate Word, 

Thrill ever and ever the tongues of the hells 
Till each dawning Christmas the story compels, 
Wherever their echo is heard. 

—Kindergarten Review 


CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART 

Laura Hooker 

What is the thought of Christmas? Giving. 
What is the hope of Christmas ? Living. 

What is the joy of Christmas? Love. 

No silver or gold is needed for giving, 

If the heart is filled With Christmas love, 

For the hope of the world is kindly living, 
Learned from the joy of God above. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


NO STOCKINGS TO WEAR 

A little boy in our street—I will not tell his name— 

Goes barefoot, though a rich man’s son; now isn’t that a 
shame ? 

He says he hasn’t got a single stocking left to wear, 

And yet, last week, his mother bought him half a dozen 
pair. 

And the silk ones grandma sent him for his best, that makes 
two more, 

And there were five or six, at least, that he had long before. 

Then why does he go barefoot? you’ll laugh, I know you 
will; 

He has hung up all his stockings for Santa Claus to fill. 


THE CRIPPLED DOLLY 

Marie Irish 

Recitation for a little girl dressed as an old dolly, with large dusting- 
cap which covers all her hair; a square of dark paper pasted over one 
eye; her left arm down at the side of her body inside of her dress and 
the sleeve on that side stuffed above the elbow and hanging limp; and 
the right foot bandaged with a strip of cloth. She walks slowly onto 
the stage, using a crutch under the right arm. 

I’m a poor, sad Christmas dolly, 

Battered and old, and forlorn; 

You never would guess from my looks, 

I was new just last Christmas morn. 

One year ago I was handsome, 

With bright eyes and beautiful curls, 

Rosy cheeks, and silky lashes, 

And teeth like little white pearls. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


35 


I never dreamed that my mistress 
Who found me in her stocking, 
Would neglect her lovely dolly 
Till I reached a plight so shocking. 


My beautiful curls are all gone, 

And, alas, you would find instead, 

If you should remove my big cap, 

A great hole in the top of my head. 

My mistress carelessly left me 

On the lawn one hot summer’s day. 
And a dreadful shower came down, 
Which washed all my color away. 


One eye, you will notice, is gone; 

Its loss I still sadly bemoan; 

It was smashed way into my head 
When I was dropped on a sharp stone. 


And a foot I also have lost— 

That’s why with a crutch I must go; 
It broke when I fell from the window 
And struck on the pavement below. 


And I should just like to ask you: 

How you really think it would seem 
To have your arm chewed by a dog 
Till your sawdust ran out in a stream ? 


Now you girls who are hoping to get 
A dolly on the Christmas tree, 

I beg you do not neglect her 

Till she’s battered and crippled like me. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


A GOOD BOY 

Marie Irish 

’Tis to the children who’ve been good— 

At least so grown-up people say — 

That Santa gives his finest presents, 

And plenty of them Christmas Day. 

I’m sure that I shall have so many 
Nice gifts I won’t know what to do, 

Because I’ve been just awful good, 

Honest I have, the whole year through— 
[Aside] ’Cept when I slapped Bess or pulled her curls; 
But boys can’t always be nice to girls. 


I Ve studied hard the whole long year ; 

Never played hookey when sent to school; 

I have not whispered, at least not much, 

Nor disobeyed the teacher’s rule. 

I’ve not made faces at cross Aunt Jane 
When she would find fault with me and scold, 
Indeed, I have been polite and kind, 

And courteous to young and old— 

[Aside] Though I thrashed Jim Barnes with hearty grace 
Because he called me monkey-face. 


I have jumped up mornings when ma called— 
That is most always; I’ve brought in wood, 
Chopped up the kindlings, carried water, 

And washed my face as a neat boy should. 

I have not thrown my coat and hat 
Upon the floor as rude hoys do; 

I’ve not tracked dirt into the house, 

Nor banged the doors as I passed through— 
[Aside] I wish to goodness I had not gone 

To ball-games when told to mow the lawn. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


3? 


When told ’twas time for Sunday School 
I did not stop to whine or pout; 

In fact, I think I’ve been so good 
My wings will soon begin to sprout. 

So I am sure that Santa Claus 
Will bring me presents by the score— 
[Aside] I wonder if he has forgotten how 

I broke Nell’s doll, and the time I swore; 
How I tied a can to Miss Ball’s cat; 

Or stole the cake from the pantry’s store. 
Come to think of it, I sadly fear 
Santa won’t bring me much this year. 

WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES 

While passing days are short and cold and drear; 
While nights are long—the longest of the year; 
While cruel winter solstice reigns supreme, 

O’er earth and air, o’er field and wood and stream, 
Glad Christmas comes with glowing heart of cheer— 
The brightest, bravest day of all the year. 

Once more o ’er life’s dark hills the shining star; 
Once more the wise men bring their gifts from far; 
Once more, amid our ceaseless toil and strife, 
Begins for us anew the Christ-child life. 

What matter, then, the shortness of the light? 
What matter, then, the darkness of the night? 

AS WE LOOK UP 

Grace E. Craig 

There is sorrow; there is sadness 
In the world this wintry eve; 

There is fear and sin and weakness; 

There are lonely hearts that grieve. 

But above the heavy laden, 

Gladdening their weary eyes, 

Spread the splendid, shining reaches 
Of the starry Christmas skies. 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


THE WAITS 

Margaret Deland 

At the break of Christmas Day, 

Through the frosty starlight ringing, 
Faint and sweet and far away, 

Comes the sound of children singing, 
Chanting, singing, 

‘‘Cease to mourn, 

For Christ is born, 

Peace and joy to all men bringing!” 

Careless that the chill winds blow, 
Growing stronger, sweeter, clearer, 
Noiseless footfalls in the snow 
Bring the happy voices nearer; 

Hear them singing, 

“Winter’s drear, 

But Christ is here, 

Mirth and gladness with Him bringing!’ 

‘Merry Christmas!” hear them say, 

As the East is growing lighter; 

‘May the joy of Christmas Day 

Make your whole life gladder, brighter 
Join their singing, 

“To each home 
Our Christ is come, 

All Love’s treasures with Him bringing ! 9 


THE FIRST CHRISTMAS 

Once a little baby lay, 

Cradled in the fragrant hay, 

Long ago on Christmas. 

In the manger it was found, 

And the white sheep stood around, 
Long ago on Christmas. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 




Led on by the shining star, 
Shepherds sought Him from afar, 
Long ago on Christmas. 

And the wise men came, they say, 
All their loving gifts to pay, 

Long ago on Christmas. 


THE CHRISTMAS QUEST 

Isabel E. Mackay 

‘ * Little lonely shepherd lad, 

Wherefore dost thou weep?” 

“Sir, my father seeks a star; 

I must watch the sheep.” 

“Very lonely is the plain, 

Very high the star, 

Pray thee, didst thou meet a lamb ? 
One hath wandered far. ’’ 

“Nay, I met no wandering lamb, 

Little shepherd lad; 

Is it but the lonely plain 

That doth make thee sad?” 

“Sir, my father and the rest 
Heard a heavenly sound; 

I heard nothing save the sheep 
Bleating all ground! ’ ’ 

“Wondrous things they heard and saw, 
Though the night was still; 

I saw nothing save my lambs 
White on yonder hill.” 

“Light was on my father’s face, 

When he went away, 

Fain I, too, had sought the star, 

But he bade me stay.” 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


‘ ‘‘ This high thing is not for thee, 

Who art but a lad. ’ 

That, in truth, good sir, is why 
I at heart am sad.’ ’ 

“Nay, thou little shepherd lad,” 

Sweet the stranger smiled, 

“When thy father finds the star, 

He will find—A Child!” 

A CHRISTMAS WISH 

Celia Thaxter 

Thine own wish wish I thee in every place— 

The Christmas joy, the song, the feast, the cheer 
Thine be the light of love in every face 

That looks on thee to bless thy coming year. 

My own wish wish I thee—what dost thou crave ? 

All thy dear hopes be thine, whate ’er they be. 

A. wish fulfilled may make thee king or slave; 

I wish thee wisdom’s eyes wherewith to see. 

Behold, she stands and waits, the youthful Year! 

A breeze of morning breathes about her brows; 

She holds the storm and sunshine, bliss and fear, 
Blossoms and fruit upon the bending boughs, 

She brings thee gifts. What blessing wilt thou choose 1 
Life’s crown of good in earth or Heaven above? 

The one immortal joy thou canst not lose 
Is love! Leave all the rest, and choose thou love. 


A CHRISTMAS CAROL 

Sara Teasdale 

The kings, they came from out the south, 
All dressed in ermine fine. 

They bore Him gold and chrysophrase, 
And gifts of precious wine. 


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41 


The shepherds came from out the south ; 
Their coats were brown and old; 

They brought Him little new-born lambs— 
They had not any gold. 

The wise men came from out the east, 

And they were wrapped in white; 

The star that led them all the way, 

Did glorify the night. 

The angels came from Heaven high, 

And they were clad with wings, 

And lo! they brought a joyful song 
The host of heaven sings. 

The kings they knocked upon the door 
The shepherds entered in; 

The wise men followed after them, 

To hear the song begin. 

The angels sang throughout the night, 

Until the rising sun, 

But little Jesus fell asleep 
Before the song was done. 


A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT 

Lucy Larcom 

Oh, Christmas is coming again, you say, 

And you long for the things he is bringing; 

But the costliest gift may not gladden the day, 

Nor help on the merry bells ringing. 

Some getting is losing, you understand; 

Some hoarding is far from saving. 

What you hold in your hand may slip from your hand; 
There is something better than having. 

We are richer for what we give, 

And only by giving we live. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS HOOR 


Your last year’s presents are scattered and gone, 
You have almost forgot who gave them; 

But the loving thoughts you bestow live on 
As long as you choose to have them. 

Love, love is your riches, though ever so poor; 

No money can buy that treasure: 

Yours always, from robber and rust secure, 

Your own without stint or measure. 

It is only love that we can give, 

It is only by loving we live. 

For Who is it smiles through the Christmas morn— 
The Light of the wide creation 1 

A dear little Child in a stable born, 

Whose love is the world’s salvation. 

He was poor on earth, but He gave us all 
That can make our life worth living; 

And happy the Christmas Day we call 
That is spent for His sake in giving. 

He shows us the way to live; 

Like Him, let us love and give. 


* 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL 

Christian Burke 

Long ago angelic harpers sang the song we sing to-day, 
And the drowsy folk of Bethlehem may have listened as 
they lay! 

But eager shepherds left their flocks, and o’er the desert 
wild 

The kingly sages journeyed to adore the Holy Child! 

Has any man a quarrel? 

Has another used you ill ? 

The friendly word you meant to say, 

Is that unspoken still ? 

Then, remember, ’twas the Angels 
Brought glad tidings of good-will. 


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43 


Of all the gifts of Christmas, are you fain to win the best ? 
Lo! the Christ Child still is waiting Himself to be your 
guest; 

No lot so high or lowly, but He will take His part, 

If you do but bid Him welcome to a clean and tender heart. 

Are you sleeping; are you waking ? 

To the Manger haste away, 

And you shall see a wondrous sight 
Amid the straw and hay— 

’Tis Love Himself Incarnate 
As on this Christmas Day! 

CHRISTMAS MORNING 

Joaquin Miller 

The bells ring clear as bugle note; 

Sweet song is filling every throat; 

’Tis welcome Christmas morning! 

0, never yet was morn so fair; 

Such silent music in the air; 

’Tis merry Christmas morning! 

Dear day of all days in the year; 

Dear day of song, goodwill and cheer; 

’Tis golden Christmas morning! 

The hope, the faith, the love that is; 

The peace, the holy promises; 

’Tis glorious Christmas morning! 

OUTSIDE 

The toyshop is a merry place 
At any time of year; 

But, oh, it’s quite like fairyland 
When Christmas Day is near. 

The music-boxes tinkle, 

And the trumpets add their noise; 

And up and down and everywhere 
Are toys and toys and toys. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


The busy crowds that look and laugh 
And hurry to and fro; 

The dolls that walk; the dolls that talk; 
The cars that truly go ; 

The tops that sing; the steeds that prance 
For children to bestride — 

How sad it seems that any child 
Should need to stand outside! 

In prickly green of Christmas wreaths 
The holly berries glow; 

The Christmas trees will sparkle soon, 
With Christmas fruit bent low. 

And here’s a thought will help us all 
At happy Christmas-tide; 

The very best of pleasures 
Are the pleasures we divide. 

Wherever hearts are happy, 

’Tis a simple thing to do, 

To seek some other, sadder heart, 

And make it happy, too. 

The joy we share with others 
Is a joy that’s multiplied; 

And ’twill make a perfect Christmas 
If there’s no one left outside. 


THEN AND NOW 

Adelaide Proctor 

Oh, to have dwelt in Bethlehem 
When the star of the Lord shone bright; 
To have sheltered the holy wanderers 
On that blessed Christmas night! 

To have kissed the tender, wayworn feet 
Of the mother undefiled, 

And with reverent wonder and deep delight 
To have tended the Holy Child. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


45 


Hush! Such a glory was not for thee; 

But that care may still be thine; 

For are there not little ones still to aid, 

For the sake of the Child divine ? 

Are there no wandering pilgrims now 
To thy heart and thy home to take ? 

And are there no mothers whose weary hearts 
You can comfort for Jesus’ sake? 

CHRISTMAS 

William Cullen Bryant 

As shadows cast by cloud and sun 
Flit o’er the summer g>*ass, 

So, in Thy sight, Almighty One, 

Earth’s generations pass. 

And, as the years, an endless host, 

Come swiftly pressing on, 

The brightest names that earth can boast 
Just glisten and are gone. 

Yet doth the star of Bethlehem shed 
A luster pure and sweet; 

And still it leads, as once it led, 

To the Messiah’s feet. 

O Father, may that holy star 
Grow every year more bright, 

And send its glorious beams afar 
To fill the world with light. 

0, CHRISTMAS TREE 

Mary Bailey 

0, Christmas tree! 0, Christmas tree! 
What will you bear this year for me ? 

Amid your candles ’ sparkling sheen, 

Upon your spicy branches green, 

Already your delights I see, 

0, Christmas tree! 0, Christmas tree! 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


0, Christmas tree! 0, Christmas tree! 
What shall your Christmas meaning be ? 
That all the world shall glow and shine, 
With just such little lights as mine, 

That warm to other hearts I ’ll be, 

0, Christmas tree! 0, Christmas tree! 

0, Christmas tree! 0, Christmas tree! 
The fruits you bear shall mean to me, 
That pleasant words and smiles shall fall 
The whole year long, like gifts, to all 
Of those I love and who love me, 

O, Christmas tree! 0, Christmas tree! 


CHRISTMAS IN THE NORTH 

Margaret E. Sangster 

Far up in the Northern country, 

Where the bitter storm-winds blow, 

Till heaped on field and highway 
Are the frozen drifts of snow; 

In the dawn of merry Christmas, 
Thatched roof and castle eaves, 

Wall and turret and gateway 
Laugh under nodding sheaves. 

For he would be hard and thankless, 

The churl whose heart and hand 
Should be closed to the birds that linger 
Like orphans in the land. 

To lofty homes and lowly 
They flock, a cheery train, 

To scatter their songs of summer 
0 ’er their feast of winter grain. 
Within, the innocent children 
Carol of Christmas Day, 

And without, the little pensioners 
Are busy and blithe as they. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 47 

CHRISTMAS JOY 

Cora L. Hazard 

“Joy! Joy! Joy!” chime out the singing bells; 

Up leaps the Yule log’s red-gold, laughing blaze. 

Along with its incense floats away 

Cold sordidness, despoiler of our days. 

“Joy! Joy! Joy!” chime out the singing bells; 

Before their magic scepter sadness disappears. 

Thrice blessed is he whose soul may catch the chimes 
And hold them singing in his heart throughout the years. 


HURRAH FOR CHRISTMAS! 

Aimee Carey 

Hurrah for old Christmas, 

For jolly old Christmas, 

The monarch of merriment, fun and good cheer! 

Let all the bells chiming 
Ring out with a rhyming, 

For Christmas, good Christmas, King Christmas is here! 

O’er snow-piles, high drifted, 

His throne is uplifted! 

His mantle is pinned by the North Polar star, 

And down the dim ages 
Saints, sinners and sages 

Cry, “Hail to King Christmas, who rules near and far!” 

His brows wreathed with holly, 

Fat, rosy and jolly, 

He sways the proud scepter no monarch can boast, 

O’er realms that are boundless 
. And depths that are soundless, 

For he, mighty Christmas, alone rules the roast. 


48 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Then plump be the purses 
Of all whom these verses 

May reach, with their tidings of jolly good cheer, 
Their presents be many, 

Their fun best of any, 

For Christmas comes once—only once—in a year. 


A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL 

I wish a Merry Christmas 
To every home on earth; 

May lowly cot, may palace hall 
Re-echo genial mirth. 

May children’s laughter gayly ring, 
And happy voices gladly sing 
A fond and joyous welcoming 
To merry, merry Christmas! 


I pray a holy Christmas 
May come to every heart; 

A time of sweet tranquillity 
From troublous care apart. 

An hour for thoughts to soar above, 
For hearts to realize the love 
And grace divine, that, like a dove, 
Brood o’er this holy Christmas. 


God send a blessed Christmas 
To every patient life; 

A little wrestling from the toil, 

A surcease of the strife. 

May Faith breathe words of gentle cheer, 
Hope point to roses blowing near, 

And tender Love and friends sincere 
Make this a blessed Christmas! 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


49 


MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY 

/ 

When Christmas morning comes, they say, 

The whole world knows it’s Christmas Day. 

The very cattle in the stalls 

Kneel when the blessed midnight falls. 

And all the night the heavens shine 
With luster of a light divine. 

Long ere the dawn the children leap 
With “Merry Christmas” in their sleep, 

And dream about the Christmas tree 
Or rise, their stockings filled to see. 

Swift are the hours of joy and cheer 
Of loving friends and kindred dear, 

Of gifts and bounties in the air, 

Sped by the “Merry Christmas” prayer. 

While through it all, so sweet and strong, 

Is heard the holy angels’ song: 

‘ 1 Glory be to God above, 

On earth be peace and helpful love.” 

THE MAGIC MONTH 

Gelett Burgess 

This is the magic month of all the year, 

Holding the children’s golden, precious day, 

Of which, with eager eyes we hear them say: 

“In three weeks—two weeks—one week—’twill be here!” 
The sparkling windows of the shops appear 
In fascinating, wonder-bright array; 

With holly and with greens, the streets are gay; 

The bustling town begins its Christmas cheer. 

Now secret plots are whispered in the hall; 

Mysterious parcels to the door are brought, 

And busy hands are half-done gifts concealing; 

The Eve is here, with merriment for all, 

And Santa Claus, with merry marvels fraught, 

Before the dawn across the roofs comes stealing. 


50 


the BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


KRIS KRINGLE 

Kris Kringle is coming; 

Kris Kringle is coming; 

Kris Kringle is coming to town! 
He wears a big pack 
On the top of his back, 

And looks like a funny old clown. 


Now wait just a minute, 

I’ll tell you what’s in it; 

Then won’t your eyes sparkle with joy! 
There’s something with curls 
For good little girls, 

And something as nice for each boy. 


There are flaxen-haired dollies 
And all sorts of follies, 

To please little folks Christmas Day ; 
There are gay horses prancing, 

And Jumping-Jacks dancing, 

And everything fitted for play. 


From Kris Kringle’s chin 
Hangs a plenty of tin,— 

Tin trumpets and watches and drums; 
Noah’s ark painted red; 

A little doll’s bed; 

And soldiers with very big guns. 


From out of his pockets 
He’ll take sugar lockets, 

And candies, all red, white and blue; 
And there will be kisses 
For nice little misses, 

And sweetmeats in plenty for you. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


51 


Oh, won’t there be funning, 

And laughing and running, 

When little folks peep in their hose. 
And pull out the candy, 

And everything handy, 

Stuffed full to the end of the toes! 

Then hang up your stockings! 

Oh, won’t there be knockings 
When Kris Kringle enters the town! 
He wears a big pack 
On the top of his back, 

And looks like a funny old clown. 


WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES 

Margaret E. Sangster 

When Christmas comes, 

The baby girl who scarce can speak, 

The youth with bronzed and bearded cheek, 
The aged bent with weight of years, 

The sorrow-stricken spent with tears, 

The poor, the rich, the grave, the gay, 

Who fare along life’s rugged way, 

Are glad of heart when, in the sky, 

The wondrous seraph wings sweep by, 
When Christmas comes. 

When Christmas comes, 

The sailor on the seas afloat, 

The traveler in lands remote, 

The warrior by the camp-fire’s light, 

The courtier in the palace bright, 

The student by the midnight lamp, 

The miner deep in dust and damp, 

Alike uplift, through riven skies, 

The wondering look of glad surprise, 

When Christmas comes. 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


When Christmas comes, 

In field and street, in mart and farm, 

The world takes on a lovelier charm; 

Sweet-scented boughs of pine and fir 

Are brought, like frankincense and myrrh, 

To make our hallowed places meet 

for hands that clasp and tones that greet, 

While hearts, worth more than gold or gem, 

Go forth to find their Bethlehem, 

When Christmas comes. 

CHRISTMAS DAY 

Margaret E. Sangster 

Of all dear days is Christmas Day 
The dearest and the best, 

Still on its dawn the angels sing 
Their songs of peace and rest. 

And yet the blessed Christ-Child comes 
And walks the shining way, 

Which brings to simple earthly homes 
Heaven’s light on Christmas Day. • 

Then, deep in silent woods, the trees— 
The hemlock, pine and fir— 

Thrill to the chilly winter breeze, 

And waft a breath of myrrh. 

And far and near Kris Kringle’s bells 
Their airy music shake, 

And dancing feet of boys and girls 
A sweeter joyance make. 

The Christ-Child came to Bethlehem, 

To Mary’s happy breast, 

And found within her brooding arms 
A warm, encircling nest. 

And many a tiny, cherub child 
In Mother’s arms to-day 
Smiles like the Christ, the undefiled, 

On this dear Christmas Day. 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


53 


THE CHRISTMAS CAROL 

Margaret E. Sangster 

The wide world round, what songs to-day 
The little children sing? 

0 ’er northern coast and southern bay, 
Their cheery voices ring, 

Till carol, carol sweeps along, 

Through aisles of churchly gloom, 

And voices of the worshipping throng 
Re-echo through the room. 

They carol of the little Child 
Who came to earth to bless; 

Whose presence hushed its passions wild; 

Whose look is tenderness. 

Whose star the hoary wise men led 
O’er hill and vale to see 
Soft sleeping, in a lowly shed, 

The babe on Mary’s knee. 

Oh, little children, carol sweet, 

From lips untouched of guile! 

The very snowflakes kiss your feet; 

The clouds before you smile. 

Sing in the happy Christmas dawn; 

Sing when the west is gray; 

Bright shines the path you journey on, 
This Merry Christmas Day. 


CHRISTMAS QUOTATIONS 

Little gifts are precious, 

If a loving heart 
Helps the busy fingers, 

As they do their part. 


54 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


And we, though young and small, 

Are thankful when we sing: 

Good-will and peace to all, 

Through Christ, our Savior King. 

Dimmest and brightest month am I; 

My short days end, my lengthening days begin, 
What matters more or less sun in the sky, 

When all is sun within. 

—Rossetti 


Chill December brings the sleet, 

Blazing fire and Christmas treat. 

Open your eyes ere I am gone, 

And hear my old, old story; 

For I am the month that first looked down 
On that beautiful Babe of glory. 

The frost is here! 

And fuel is dear, and woods are sear, 

And fires burn clear, and frost is here 
And has bitten the heel of the going year. 

—Tennyson 

We like the spring with its fine fresh air; 

We like the summer with flowers so fair; 

We like the fruits we in autumn share, 

And we like, too, old Winter’s greeting. 

Kind hearts are the gardens; 

Kind thoughts are the roots; 

Kind words are the flowers; 

Kind deeds are the fruits. 

Now banish cares, let feuds depart, 

No time is this to fret or fight; 

Let peace, good-will possess each heart. 

Ring “Merry Christmas” till “good-night.” 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


55 


Oh, what care we for wintry weather! 

Inside ’tis warm and all are gay: 

We’ll feast and laugh and sing together, 

Be glad and happy while we may. 

So, now is come our joyful’st feast! 

Let every man be jolly; 

Each room with ivy leaves is drest, 

And every post with holly. 

—Wither 


The bells chime merrily and clear 
Upon the frosty, bracing air; 

For Christmas Day once more is here, 

To scatter blessings everywhere. 

Dark and dull night, fly hence away, 

And give the honor to this day 
That sees December turned to May. 

While does the chilling winter’s morn 
Smell like a field beset with corn ? 

Or smell like to a mead new-shorne, 

Thus on the sudden ?—Come and see 
The cause why things thus fragrant be. 

—Herrick 

What though upon his hoary head 
Have fallen many a winter’s snow; 

His wreath is still as green and red 
As ’twas a thousand years ago. 

Glad Christmas comes, and every hearth 
Makes room to give him welcome now; 

E’en want will dry its tears in mirth, 

And crown him with a holly bough. 

—John Clare 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Cheerful looks and words are very 
Sure to make the Christmas merry. 

Tongues that speak the truth sincere, 

Hearts that hold each other dear— 

These will make a happy year. 

Then wherefore in these merry days 
Should we, I pray, be duller ? 

No, let us sing some roundelays, 

To make our mirth the fuller. 

And, whilst we thus inspired, sing, 

Let all the streets with echoes ring; 

Let woods and hills, and everything, 

Bear witness we are merry. —Wither 

Come, Christmas, with thy message dear 
And all thy gentle mirth, 

To teach that love shall cast out fear 
And peace shall reign on earth. 

—Edwin S. Martin 

Oh, tell the sweeet story again and again, 

Of peace upon earth and good-will among men; 

And let our lives prove that its meaning we know, 
While love’s happy sunshine around us we throw. 

— E. E. Hewitt 

Little wishes on white wings, 

Little gifts—such tiny things— 

Just one little heart that sings— 

Make a Merry Christmas. 

Now all our neighbors’ chimneys smoke, 

And Christmas blocks are burning, 

Their ovens they with baked meats choke, 

And all their spits are turning. 

Without the door let sorrow lie, 

And if, for cold, it hap to die, 

We’ll bury it in a Christmas pie, 

And everymore be merry. — Old Song 


RECITATIONS AND QUOTATIONS 


CHRISTMAS CHEER 

May every greeting be fulfilled 

That you shall hear this Christmas morn, 
Your hours be beams of joy distilled, 

Your life a rose without a thorn. 

Thine be all the Christmas joys! 

May songs of music sweet, 

Ring in thine heart 
As all the glad, swift hours 
Pass by on rapid feet. 

Just the old-time Christmas greeting, 

Just the same great wish I send; 

Just the same old message, speaking 
Love that loves unto the end. 

May Christmas bring you peace and happiness, 
Golden hopes and love of friends 
And every joy this world can send. 

Christmas Day is here once more, 

Take with this from me, 

Just the wish oft heard before; 

Happy may yours be, 

And the year add to your store 
Of prosperity. 

May all your troubles pass away 
On this bright, joyous Christmas Day; 

And, throughout all the coming year 
May God’s kind cheer be ever near. 

Mirth and laughter, song and jest 
Speed the merry, fleeting hours 
Of good gifts, be yours the best, 

Glad as sunshine,- bright as flowers. 

—Fannie Goddard 


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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 

A health to brave old Santa Claus 
And to his reindeer bold, 

Whose hoofs are shod with eider-down, 

Whose horns are tipped with gold. 

Ring, ring the bells! 

Many a good old song, many a glad refrain; 

Many a genial hour of mirth may we enjoy again. 

What shall I choose for your Christmas? 

All fair sweet things I would send— 

The gifts of peace and of happiness, 

And love from the heart of a friend. 

Christmas! the very name invokes 
A host of wishes true, 

That on the wings of happy thought 
With joy I send to you. 

— E. A. L. Knight 

On this your Christmas may you share 
Blessings rich and blessings rare ; 

These holly berries bright and sweet 
To you love’s message will repeat. 

The air resounds with chant and chime—* 

The season that we love is here— 

May Christmas prove a happy time, 

And usher in a bright New Year. 


The pleasures tha;t will cheer, 

The memories that endear 

Each passing hour be yours, old friend, to-day; 
With all you need of wealth, 

And the bliss of perfect health,— 

What dearer things can friendship hope, or say ? 

—Evelyn Neville 



MAKING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS 

Marie Irish 

To be given by young lady who sews as she talks. 

Dear me, I am so dreadfully busy—yes, of course, I’m 
making Christmas presents—everyone is at this time of the 
year. I often wish that Christmas came in the middle of 
the summer, because it seems as if there would be more 
time, then, to make presents—at least it doesn’t seem as if 
we are quite so busy in summer, though it does take lots 
Df time just to keep comfortable. Yes, Christmas is a 
lovely day and it is so interesting to get presents, if it is a 
trial to know what to do with half of them. Of course, I 
like to give presents, but I do get tired of making them. 
What ? You think it is cheaper to buy them than to make 
them ? Well, really, I notice that when I buy things ready 
to give they cost more than if I had made them, but when 
I buy materials and make gifts they count up to more 
than if I had bought something ready-made. It is quite 
perplexing to decide which to do, and it is terrifying the 
way presents cost. 

Yes, I’m making a lot of gifts this year. I don’t see 
how in the world I’ll ever get them all finished. I’m 
crocheting some Irish lace for Aunt Mary; making a beau¬ 
tiful bag for Evelyn, and an apron for mother, to say noth¬ 
ing of the breakfast-cap for Eleanor and a lunch cloth for 

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THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


father. What? A lunch cloth is a queer gift for him? 
Well, you see, it has such a lot of lovely work on it that 
Pm just crazy to keep it for myself, and dear father won’t 
mind if I take it back after a while. I expect to be almost 
dead by the time I get all these things done—and my folks 
don’t appreciate my work, either. Why, last night it was 
my turn to get supper and just because I had a picked-up 
meal—there really wasn’t very much to eat—so that I 
might have more time to embroider, you should have heard 
how they treated me. Father said it was more important 
to keep folks from starving than it was to make foolish 
things that people didn’t know what to do with; and 
brother Tom said when he got up from the table that he 
was hungry enough to eat the cushion I had been making. 
They were just mean! Father even grumbled because I 
said I hadn’t time to mend his coat—when I was trying so 
hard to finish Tom’s necktie. You just ought to see what 
a lovely silk tie I have embroidered for Tom. It matches 
my hair perfectly and looks so nice on me that I’m going 
to wear it for a band around my head, with an ornament 
to fasten it at the side. Really, it looks grand, and no one 
would dream it is a necktie. Oh, no, Tom won’t mind; he 
will never notice that I have it on. 

I bought the sweetest little dish to give one of my 
teachers. It is just too dear. Why, really, I don’t know 
what it is for, but I guess she can find some use for it; at 
least it is awfully sweet, even if she doesn’t know what its 
mission in life was meant to be. You know there are lots 
of people who never find the work they were intended for 
in the world. 

Dear me, I shall be glad when I get my presents made, 
because it costs so much for candy. Chocolate creams are 
dreadfully expensive. Oh, no, I’m not buying them to 
give for presents: I get them to eat. You know it is lots 
easier to make my gifts if I have some candy to nibble on 
while I am working. Really, the candy helps a whole lot— 
sort of sweetens the monotony of labor, as it were. 

Isn’t it hard sometimes to know how to have the things 
you are making turn out—or turn into, I mean ? I hardly 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 


63 


know whether to give Cousin Eunice a doilie, or whether 
to put ribbons on it and call it an apron. I have started the 
sweetest thing for Mabel Harrison, hut I can’t decide 
whether to let it be a breakfast-cap, or to make a fancy hag 
of it—though it is too dear for anything. 

Oh, hum, I suppose I must go and practice my music 
lesson, or that cross Miss Barnes will take my head off. 
Last time she scolded me because I had neglected my prac¬ 
tice and didn’t have the least sympathy for me because 
I’m working myself into my grave getting Christmas pres¬ 
ents finished. I’m sure I wish it were true—as I used to 
believe when a child—that old Santa Claus made all the 
presents in his factories up there in the shade of the North 
Pole. He wouldn’t look as smiling as his pictures show 
if he had to do all my embroidering. Well, Christmas 
is an awfully merry time and I’d love it if presents weren’t 
such a bother and cost so frightfully! 


EASY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 

Marie Irish 

To be recited by a young man. 

Time is passing—the festive day draws on apace and I 
must, yes, I really must decide what Christmas presents to 
give my various relations and friends. I believe in going 
at the matter systematically, making a list of those I wish 
to. remember and then deciding what to give each one, so 
that when I sally forth to do my shopping it will be a 
simple matter. These people who dilly-dally around, not 
knowing what to buy and at the last minute taking this and 
that, hit-and-miss, make me tired. 

Now I shall he businesslike and have the whole thing 
off my hands in short order. Folks who make such a fuss 
about Christmas shopping being a dreadful bug-bear don’t 
know what they are talking about. First, I will make out 
my list of those I want to give presents. [Takes note¬ 
book and pencil from his pocket. The list of names should 


62 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


be already written in the booh and he merely pretends 
to write them as he speaks.] Let me see: Grandmother, 
Pa and Ma, Sister Ella, Toots and Jasper, and—er—Aunt 
Mary, Aunt Charlotte, Cousin Jennie, Cousin Tom, Marie, 
Cousin Wilbur, and—er—Jack Dale, [pause] and—Lois 
Harvey— [pause] and—oh, yes, Grace Adams. I must 
not forget her; she’s a peach, Grace is. I guess that is all. 
[Looks over the list.] Oh! why I forgot Uncle Henry and 
Uncle Joe; can’t leave them out. [Writes.] I believe 
my list is complete. [Looks it over again.] Gee! I. left 
out Cousin Hester; she always gives me a dandy present. 
[Writes.] And [thinks] I forgot Chub Haley—wouldn’t 
slight him for anything. 

Now I shall decide what to give each one; that won’t 
take long. I’ve got to hurry because I am going to take 
Grace Adams to the game, and I must not be late. [Looks 
at list.] Grandmother first. Let me see—what shall I get 
grandma? It must be something appropriate for an old 
lady—a—hum—er—now what is nice for an old lady? 
I might get her a—a—well, I’ll be blessed if I can think 
what to get her. I guess I’ll buy her a—a—now I wonder 
what she would like. I think I’ll get her a—oh, yes, I 
know! A handkerchief! That will be just the thing; 
everyone likes lots of handkerchiefs; they ’re so—so handy 
to have. 

And now what shall I give father ? I think he will like 
a—a—perhaps a book. No; he never reads anything but 
the papers. He might like a—a—hang it, how do I know 
what he’d like? I—oh, sure, I’ll get him some collars; 
they’re useful. I don’t know his size, but I can get some 
that fit me—that’s just the thing! For mother I shall buy 
a—a— [Walks the floor.] Funny I can’t think of what 
she would like. I wonder how she would fancy a—a—say, 
I know what I shall get for Grace Adams: a nice calendar, 
a beautiful one, that she may remember her dates with 
me; just the thing! [Writes in book.] Now—oh, yes, I 
must decide on something for mother. I guess I ’ll give her 
a—a—handkerchief. No; I have it! I’ll get her a dish— 
the cook is always smashing them. I don’t know what she 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 


63 


needs, but it won’t matter as long as I get a dish—a dish 
is a dish and one is as good as another. [Writes,] 

I’ll decide on Aunt Mary next; she’s.all right; awful 
good woman, if she is sort of homely. What can I get her ? 
A book? No; her eyes are so poor she doesn’t read much. 
She has lots of dishes; in fact, she has most everything a 
person can think of. [Looks at watch.] Gee! but time is 
passing! I’ve got to get through with this in a hurry or 
I’ll be late for the game. Why, this is the worst job I’ve 
struck since—since I used to have to weed the onion bed. 
I guess I’ll get Aunt Mary a—a— [sudden inspiration] —a 
handkerchief! I’ll get a real nice one. I’ll get one that is 
too nice to be useful and she’ll be awful tickled with it. 
[Writes.] 

Now what shall I get for Cousin Jennie? She is a stun¬ 
ner, Jennie is, and I want to give her something nice. I 
wonder how—well, one of these fancy things women wear 
on their necks would suit her ? Just the idea! One thing: 
I shall not get her a—handkerchief! Yes, one of those 
fancy collars, or whatever they call ’em; that is what I’ll 
get. Shall I get pink or blue—blue or pink? [Walks 
floor.] Her eyes are—are they black or blue?—let me see: 
I think they are either black or blue; now shall I get a 
pink or a blue collar—a pink— [Tears hair] —or a—blue? 
Yes, it shall be pink and blue! Heavens, I must fly—piijp 
or blue—blue or—pink! [Dashes out.] 


MISS PRIM’S CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 

Marie Irish 

For a girl dressed as an old maid. Carries large hand-bag containing 
note-book, camphor, handkerchief, etc. 

Good-mornin’, Mr. Blake. Yes, it’s a real nice day—if the 
wind wasn’t quite so strong, an’ it was a little mite 
warmer, an’ the sun would shine out some so’s it wouldn’t 
look so kind of stormy. But I alius take the weather as it 
comes —seein’ I can’t change it. Yes, I’m out to do some 


64 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Christmas shoppin\ Have yon got in some nice things 
fer presents? [Looks around room and up and down 
shelves, etc.] Last year I told my cousin, Betsey Haskins, 
she that lives over- to Loontown, in that big stone house— 
they’re real ’fraid she’s goin’ into consumption, too—that’s 
got that big cupola on it—that I thought you had a real 
poor stock of Christmas things for a store like this. Yes, 
I want to buy quite a considerable many presents because 
I alius plan to give a few more’n I git, long as the Good 
Book says it’s more blessed to give than to receive. La, 
yes, last year I got a lot of presents. I kep’ ’em on the 
center table in the best room fer most a month so’s folks 
could see ’em—an’ there was most a table full. 

I’d like to see some neckties, please. Dear me; not those 
lace ones fer wimmin; I want one fer a—a—man! [Gig¬ 
gles.] What color? Wal, I guess a red one with quite a 
lot of green in it—an’ mebbe a little bright blue; seems 
like that’d look real nice with his sandy complexion—if 
he is cross-eyed. Land sakes! How’d you ever guess it’s 
fer Lem Harwood? [Giggles.] Now don’t you tell no¬ 
body—not that I care, ’cause ev’rybody knows he’s awful 
daffy ’bout me. But that’s all the good it’ll do him. I’m 
jest givin’ him a present to pay back fer that lovely cup 
an’ saucer he give me last year. It had such lovely red 
roses on it I could most smell ’em while I drank my tea. 
No, I guess I don’t want any of these neckties. They’re so 
sort of dull-lookin’. I think Christmas presents oughter 
be real bright an’ cheerful, so’s to make folks feel merry. 
Mebbe I can find a bright one over to Jackson’s store—one 
with some purple in it. 

I want to look at a cage for William. I want a good one 
that’ll be quite lastin’. What do I want to cage ’im for? 
Why, so’s he won’t git away, of course. What? You 
don’t keep cages for men? Land sakes, who said you did? 
I ain’t askin’ fer a cage for a man. I guess I could keep a 
man without cagin’ ’im. You’d think so if you knew how 
many have wanted me! You thought I wanted a cage to 
catch William Bates? [Giggles.] The idee! Why, I 
wouldn’t look at him. [Giggles.] I want a cage fer Wil- 


MONOLOGUES AND READINGS 


65 


liam, my pet canary. Ain’t you got any trimmed with 
•gold? I think the gold will match awful nice with his 
yellow feathers. La, yes, I alius git ’im a Christmas pres¬ 
ent. You needn’t make fun of William; he’s easier to 
manage than a man, ’cause when he gits too noisy I jest 
put ’im in the dark an’ he keeps still. 

Oh, let me look at that vase, won’t you? That’s real 
pretty. How much is it? Seventy-five cents? Hum! that 
ain’t very much to pay fer a present fer your own sister! 
No, I don’t want to buy it. I jest wanted to know how 
much it cost. Miss Billings got one fer her sister an’ I 
wanted to know what she paid. Say, that’s an awful nice 
dish. Let me see that, will you? What’s it fer? What! 
you don’t know? The idee, not to know what it’s fer! 
I might buy it fer my niece over to Craneville, ’cause she is 
so smart she could think up what to use it fer without bein ’ 
told. How much is it? Fifty cents? What? You’ll let 
me have it fer forty-nine cents? Wal, I’ll take that. I 
alius did injoy gettin’ bargains. 

How-de-do, Miss Graves. [ Makes as if shaking hands.] 
Yes, I’m doin’ some Christmas shoppin’. I’m real well— 
young folks most generally are, you know. You’ve heard 
that it’s more blessed to give than to receive an’ I jest 
would like to give this cold that I received las’ night to 
somebody else—I’d feel more blessed. [Uses handkerchief 
vigorously.] What? I must a been out walkin’ with a 
feller? The idee! [Giggles.] Oh, yes, I think I’ll hang 
up my stockin’! I think it’s nice fer young folks to do so. 
If you’ll believe it, a man told me he’d like to be hung up 
in a big stockin’ fer my Christmas present. [Giggles.] 
But 1 don’t want ’im—I ain’t lookin’ fer a widower with 
four little cyclones to drive me crazy. Why, how’d you 
know it was Lorenzo Watkins? I never said it was. [Gig¬ 
gles.] 

Oh, Mr. Blake, I want to look at some collars. No, of 
course, not for a man! What? You thought I wanted a 
collar to go with that necktie for Lem Harwood ? Oh, land 
sakes! [Giggles.] I don’t know what to do with such a 
jollier as you are. [Smells of camphor bottle as she 


66 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


giggles.] I want a dog collar for my little Towser—he 
must have a Christmas present. You ain’t got any? Mebbe# 
I can git one over to Johnson Bros. Wal, I must go. I’ll 
come in again. No, of course, I ain’t goin’ ’cause Lorenzo 
Watkins jest went past. [Giggles as she hurries out.] 

SANTA CLAUS’S ASSISTANT 

JOHN KENDRICK BANGS 

It was not long after midnight. The wee small hours of 
Christmas day were just beginning to arrive, aud down 
in the library, where the tree was sheltering a profuse 
array of toys, stood an unexpected guest. He was ill clad, 
unshaven, and his hair looked as though it had never known 
a comb. In his right hand he carried a dark-lantern, and 
slung over his left arm was a sack, a common jute bag, 
and he had entered by the window that looked out upon 
the street. The family had all retired, and for the most 
part were asleep. That is why the unexpected guest chose 
this time to arrive. 

Stealthily he crossed the room, and drawing the por¬ 
tieres silently across the broad doorway that opened into 
the hall he slid back the front of his lantern, and, lighting 
a match in its flame, he turned on the gas and lit it, so 
that he might better see the exact character of his 
surroundings. 

“Humph!” he said, as he observed the free. “Quite a 
fine layout. I don’t know but what, after all, it’s a good 
thing that parents give their children expensive things these 
days. It’s a great help to our profession. You can’t raise 
much money on candy balls and tuppeny dolls, but these 
silver-plated engines and purses with ten-dollar bills in 
’em come in handy. Gold sleeve-buttons, too, an’ a gold 
watch as well. This is luck.” 

And then, as he bent over the groups of toys and presents 
of a more expensive nature intended for Bobbie, his eye 
glittering with joy at the prospective value of his haul, 
the heart of the unexpected guest stopped beating for an 
instant. There was a rustling sound behind him. 


MONOLOGUES and readings 


67 


With a quick movement he slid the cover of the dark- 
lantern to, by mere force of habit; but it was unavailing; 
the room was still lighted, though dimly. 

“Curse the gas!” he muttered, as he turned. 

‘ ‘ Hullo!’ ’ said a soft little voice from behind the portieres, 
and at the same moment the curtains were parted, and there 
stood Bobbie, clad in his night-gown. 4 ‘Is that you, Santa 
Claus?” he added, peering curiously at the unexpected 
guest. The man gave a short laugh. 

“That’s the first time I’ve been taken for anyone that’s 
half decent, ’ ’ he said to himself; and then he answered, in 
a whisper loud enough for Bobbie to hear: 

“Well, not exactly, sonny. I’m only his assistant.” 

“His what?” said Bobbie. 

“Sh! Not so loud, my boy—you’ll wake the family; 
and if you did that, I’d just vanish like the mist,” said 
the man. “I said I was only Santa Claus’s assistant. You 
see, my lad, there’s so many more children nowadays than 
there used to be that the boss had to get outside help Christ¬ 
mas eve, or he’d never be able to finish up his work in 
time. So he sends for me an’ a few others like me— 
Heaven help us—and we do his distributing for him. I’d 
just laid these things out here when you surprised me. ’ ’ 

Bobbie approached the tree. 

“Oh, isn’t it beautiful!” he cried. “All these things 
for me! A watch, too—just the very thing I wanted. ’ ’ 

The man drew back as the boy spoke and, with a queer 
light in his eye, sat down on one of the chairs suddenly. 

“Are you tired?” asked Bobbie, leaving the tree and 
crossing to Santa Claus’s assistant. 

“Yes,” said the man. “Very.” 

“I am sorry,” said Bobbie, affectionately, as he took the 
other’s hand in his and kissed it. 

“Don’t—don’t do that,” said the man, huskily. “It’s 
not—not clean.” 

“I shouldn’t think it would be,” laughed Bobbie ; “climb¬ 
ing in by sooty chimneys can’t be very clean work. Do 
you know, I always wonder why there’s never any soot 
left on the toys.” 


68 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


“Oh, we take care of that,” said the assistant. “You see 
this bag keeps the soot off. But I didn’t come by the chim¬ 
ney this time,” he added, hastily, observing that there was 
no soot on the bag either. ‘ ‘ I thought the window easier. 1 v 

“You’re all through, aren’t you?” said Bobbie. 

“How do you know that?” asked the man. 

“Your bag is empty. Isn’t there anyone else for you to 
take a toy to?” 

The unexpected guest buried his face in his hands, and a 
great lump rose up in his throat. 

“There was one other,” said the assistant, “but there’s 
nothing for him—and—and it’s all my fault. I neglected 
to look after him.” 

“And won’t he get anything?” asked Bobbie. 

“No,” said the assistant, roughly, rising and taking a 
step toward the tree. 

“He can have one of mine,” cried Bobbie. “Here, take 
him this. I’ve got plenty, thanks to you. ’ ’ He handed him 
one of the treasures beneath the tree. The unexpected guest 
looked at the boy for a minute, and then he slowly reached 
out his hand and took the proffered toy. 

“I’ll see that he gets it,” he said, “and God will bless 
you for it! Good-by, little one. I must be off, or he’ll 
wake up and be disappointed.” 

He moved toward the door, when Bobbie ran after him, 
and holding up his little face, said: “Won’t you take a 
kiss for Santa Claus for me?” 

‘ ‘ That I will, ’ ’ said the other, and he bent over, and kiss¬ 
ing the child, fled precipitately out through the window, 
and disappeared in the darkness of the street. 

“Well,” said the unexpected guest the following morn¬ 
ing, as he watched his own pallid-faced little youngster 
playing with the first Christmas present he’d ever known, 
* 1 that was the rummiest thing. I went out to steal, and the 
only thing I bagged (that was really given to me) was a 
kiss, and I’ll see Santa Claus in hades before I give him 
that. It was a rich haul, but I think I’ll get a decenter 
job—at New Year’s.” 


— Harper’s Magazine 



A CHRISTMAS LESSON 


Marie Irish 

FOR SIX GIRLS AND FIVE BOYS OF THE PRIMARY GRADES 
CHARACTERS 

Mr. Brown; Mrs. Brown; their children, Tom and Nellie; the 
Fairy; Plum Pudding; two Christmas Candies; Christmas 
Wreath; Christmas Stocking; and Christmas Heart. 

COSTUMES 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown: Dressed as adults, plain clothes. 

Tom and Nellie: Small children, ordinary clothing. 

Fairy: White dress, white stockings;'hair flowing; gilt paper band 
about forehead; carries wand. 

Plum Pudding: Boy with dark stockings and a sack cut from tan- 
colored cloth, which gathers just below his knees and at the top of the 
head, being stuffed out with paper and soft cloth to make it round like 
a pudding. Holes are cut over the face for eyes, nose and mouth. 
Christmas Candies: Two girls with white cloth masks over faces, 
each wrapped in a sheet from feet to top of head, so as to be as 
small as possible and straight up and down. One has a strip of red 
cloth wound around in a spiral for a stripe, while the other has bright 
blue. 

Christmas Wreath: A girl with dark dress, wearing a wreath of 
firm pasteboard covered with evergreen, large enough to reach from 
top of her head to bottom of her dress. She holds it at each side with 
hands. 

Heart; A boy with a large pasteboard heart covered with bright red 
paper or cloth, which he holds in front of his face like a shield. 
Stocking : A boy with a long stocking cut from stiff paper or paste¬ 
board and covered with bright paper or cloth, which he holds in front 
of body like a shield. 


69 



70 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


SCENE 

A plain living room, several chairs, and at center of back, a small 

table. 

Discovered , Mr. and Mrs. Brown and Children 

Mrs. Brown : Well, John, it is Christmas time, again. 

Mr. Brown: Yes, so it is. Well, I guess we won't keep 
Christmas this year—it is all foolishness. 

Mrs. Brown: Just as you say, John. I do not see why 
Christmas is better than any other day. There is no need 
to fuss. 

Mr. Brown : Of course not. This talk of loving, and giv¬ 
ing, and goodwill among men is all nonsense. I do not 
believe in Christmas. 

Tom : What! Not have any Christmas ? That will be 
horrid. 

Nellie : Of course, it will. I want to have Christmas and 
hang up my stocking. 

Tom : Why, Christmas is the best day of the year. 

Nellie : Everyone says Christmas is splendid. I want to 
have a nice Christmas. 

Mrs. Brown : No; we won't have any this year. 

Mr. Brown: We will spend the day working. 

Tom and Nellie: We want Christmas. [Begin to cry.] 

Mr. Brown: You children go right to bed. [Exeunt Tom 
and Nellie.] 

Mrs. Brown : Now, we can read our papers. [They read.] 
Enter Fairy 

Fairy [aside] : I am a Christmas fairy and it surely 
makes me tired to hear these silly people say there is no 
need of keeping Christmas. The idea! People have been 
keeping Christmas for hundreds of years and enjoy it 
just as well as ever. I shall have to teach these folks 
a lesson. I can’t have their little children deprived of 
the pleasure of Christmas. [Waves wand.] Tim-o-ree, 
lim-o-ree, san, ban, see; tim-o-ree, lim-o-ree, nil, sil, 
mee. [Mr. and Mrs. Brown fall asleep.] Now I’ll send 
some visitors. [Exit.] 


DIALOGUES, EXEBCISES, PLAYS 71 

Enter Christmas Wreath 

Christmas Wreath : I am the wreath of Christmas green. 
Well do these people remember me, for I have hung upon 
their wall at Christmas time for many years. [To Mr. 
Brown:] Your mother, sir, never passed a Christmas 
without the wreath of green, and you are indeed green 
to think I am useless. But, this year, you will need me, 
for you are to spend the day working. You do not de¬ 
serve a wreath as big as a thimble. [Stands against wall 
ai back of room.] 

Enter Christmas Stocking • 

Christmas Stocking : So you folks are not going to keep 
Christmas. Well, well! Perhaps you don’t remember 
how you used to jump up early Christmas morning to 
see what was in your stocking. Why, it is over thirty 
years since your parents hung up your first Christmas 
stockings, and now you think it is foolish. Why, a Christ¬ 
mas stocking is as full of fun as it is of presents. You 
make me tired, you do. [Stands by Christmas Wreath.] 

Enter Christmas Pudding 

Christmas Pudding [jumping upon table, where he sits 
with legs crossed in front of him] : So you cranky folks 
aren’t going to keep Christmas. I suppose you have for¬ 
gotten how many times I have helped make the day merry 
for you. Well; stare at me if you want to. Yes; I am 
the Christmas Pudding and you ought to be ashamed, 
not to keep Christmas just for the sake of seeing me on 
the table. Gee, can’t you remember how good I am? 
Many a time you have been near sick from eating me. 
Now you say that Christmas is foolish. I am ashamed 
of you. [Remains on table.] 

Enter Christmas Candies 

First Stick : Aha, do you know us ? Oh, I see that you 
do, and no wonder you-look ashamed. As many years 
as Christmas Candy has been popular I wonder you 


72 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


think you can get along without it. Think how fond 
the children are of us, and even old folks still have a 
sweet tooth. Your little children will have a nice Christ¬ 
mas without us! You ought to be shut up with the crazy 
folks. 

Second Stick: Say, you better think back a few years 
and remember how you used to like us at Christmas 
time. The truth is you are still fond of us. You would 
like a bite of me this very minute; you know you would. 
The idea of your saying that Christmas is all foolish¬ 
ness. [They stand, one at each side of table.] 

• 

Enter Christmas Heart 

Christmas Heart: Say, do you know me? What? I 
look like a heart? Well, I am. I’m the Spirit of Christ¬ 
mas—the great big heart of kindness and love that makes 
people want to shout Merry Christmas and shake hands, 
and give presents and cheer up those who are sad. Most 
folks have a Christmas heart, but you people haven’t one 
as big as a hickory nut. You don’t even want to make 
your children happy. 

Christmas Wreath: Hurrah for the Christmas Wreath 
upon the wall! 

Christmas Stocking : Hurrah for the Stockings hung by 
the chimney! 

Christmas Pudding : Hurrah for the Plum Pudding upon 
the table! 

Christmas Heart : Hurrah for the Spirit of Kindness and 
Love! 

Christmas Candies: 

Hurrah for the candy with stripes so neat, 

Pure and sweet that cannot be beat. 

[They all pass out.] 

Enter Fairy 

Fairy [waving wand] : Tim-o-ree, lim-o-ree, san, ban, see; 
tim-o-ree, lim-o-ree, nil, sil, mee. I do hope these foolish 
people will wake with some sense. [Exit.] 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


73 


Mrs. Brown [waking quickly] : Oh, what a dream! 

Mr. Brown [waking same time] : What! Did you dream 
it, too? 

Mrs. Brown: About the big stocking and the Christmas 
candy ? , 

Mr. Brown: Yes, and the plum pudding and the wreath. 
[Both rise.] 

Mrs. Brown: Of course, we must keep Christmas this 
year. 

Mr. Brown : Certainly; I was just going to say so. 

Mrs. Brown : The children must hang up their stockings. 

Mr. Brown: And there must be candy and a plum pud¬ 
ding. 

Mrs. Brown: Of course. We can’t miss our Christmas 
pleasures. 

CURTAIN 


THE FAVORITE TREE 

Laura F. Armitage 

FOR THREE BOYS 

First Boy : 

Hurrah for the fruit of the apple-tree; 

• What fairer fruit can be? 

In gold, or russet, red, or green; 

A lovely sight to see. 

The pear, the cherry, the peach and plum 
Bear fruit that is fine, I know; 

But the apple-tree’s my favorite 
Of all the trees that grow. 

Second Boy : 

Hurrah for the fruit of the walnut tree! 

When the autumn days appear, 

Then the frost sends walnuts rattling down,- 
That sound I love to hear. 


74 


THE BEST CHBISTMAS BOOK 


In cool and bright October days, 

Afar to the woods we go; 

Oh, the walnut-tree ’s my favorite 
Of all the trees that grow. 

Third Boy : 

Hurrah for the fruit of the Christmas tree! 

I am sure it beats them all; 

What better fruit than gun and drum, 

And trumpet, bat and ball? 

Skates, games and books, and many toys 
Hang on branches high and low; 

Oh, the Christmas tree’s my favorite 
Of all the trees that grow. 


All: 

Hurrah for the apple and walnut-trees! 

May they never cease to stand! 

But a three times three for the Christmas tree! 
May it flourish in our land! 


MOTHER GOOSE’S CHRISTMAS 

Marie Irish 

FOR EIGHT BOYS AND NINE GIRLS OF THE PRIMARY GRADES 
CHAEACTEBS 

Mother Goose 
Jack and Jill 
Bo-Beep 
Miss Muffet 
Mistress Mary 
Cross Patch 
Queen of Hearts 
Woman, Who Lived in Shoe 

COSTUMES 

Mother Goose: High-pointed hat with wide strings to tie under 
chin; tight waist with ruffles; short skirt with bright overskirt; slip¬ 
pers with large bows; white kerchief about neck. 


Mother Hubbard 
Boy Blue 
Humpty-Dumpty 
Tommy Tucker 
Jack Horner 
Simple Simon 
Knave of Hearts 
Santa Claus . 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 75 

Bo-Peep: White dress; colored sash, tied in large bow; big hat 
trimmed with same color as sash; carries crook. 

Mistress Mary: Hair done high on head; fancy, bright-colored 
gown, floor length. 

Queen of Hearts : Light gown trimmed with red hearts. 

Knave of Hearts: Dark suit trimmed with bright hearts. 

Boy Blue: Blue cap; large, blue collar with ruffle; blue tie. 

Simple Simon: Bright sash, tied at Side; bright tie and cap. 

Cross Patch: Dressed as old maid; dark gown; cork-screw curls; 
etc. 

Mother Hubbard: Calico gown; shawl; large bonnet; carries cane. 
Humpty-Dumpty: White cap; high, white collar; white shirt front; 
dark suit; wide, white belt. 

Miss Muffet: Short, dark dress, trimmed with bright ruffles, and 
bonnet to match. 

Jill: Large, dark cape and small bonnet or cap to match. 

Jack: Dark suit, with bright tie and cap. 

Woman, Who Lived in Shoe: Dark gown; large apron; small cape; 
cld-fashioned hat. 

Tommy Tucker: Pointed cap, stuffed, with bell on end of point, like 
a jester’s cap; large, ruffled blouse; dark trousers. 

Jack Horner: Bright stockings; sweater; bright stocking-cap. 
Santa Claus: Red cap, trimmed with evergreen or white cotton; 
bright leggings; short, heavy coat, trimmed with white cotton; red 
sash about waist; cheeks painted red; white hair and whiskers. 


SCENE I 

Discovered, Mother Goose 

Mother Goose [coming down stage ] : 

Alack and alas! Oh, deary me! 

I’m just as sad as I can be. 

At Christmas time I’m here alone, 
My home is still; no cheerful tone 
Of happy voices do I hear; 

But everywhere is silence drear. 
While other hearts are light and gay, 
Enjoying celebrations to-day, 


76 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


There’s not a soul who cares a jot 
Whether I am merry or not. 

I’d like to know what is the use 
Of being the long^famed Mother Goose, 

When all my children have gone away 
And left me alone on Christmas Day. 

[Weeps (is she passes slowly from stage.} 

Enter Santa Claus, gazing at Mother Goose 

Santa Claus: Well, that poor old soul! What a shame 
that she is so sad. [Wipes eyes.] It always makes me 
feel bad to see a woman cry. I wonder if I can’t give her 
a nice Christmas present to cheer her up. [Thinks.] 
I know what I’ll do. I’ll start out with my reindeer, 
hunt up some of her children and have them give her a 
surprise party. [Dashes out.] 

CURTAIN 

SCENE II—As before 
Enter Santa Claus 

Santa Claus: Whew, I’ve had a swift journey! Talk 
about airships and automobiles—there is nothing slow 
about my reindeer. They told me I’d find Boy Blue 
here. Wonder where he is. [Looks about.] Perhaps I’d 
better call him. [Calls.] Little Boy Blue, come blow 
your horn; sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn. 
Where is the little boy that tends the sheep ? 

Enter Jack Horner 

Jack: He’s under the hay-stack fast asleep. [Calls.] 
Oh-h-h-h, Boy Blue! 

Enter Boy Blue 

Boy Blue [rubbing his eyes] : What do you want of me? 

Santa Claus: Say, what do you mean by sleeping on 
Christmas Day? Aren’t you one of Mother Goose’s 
famous children? 


DIALOGUES, EXEECISES, PLAYS 


77 


Boy Blue: Yes, I’m Boy Blue, and if I’m not mistaken 
yon are Santa Claus—at least you look like the pictures 
I have seen of him. If you please, I’d like a new horn 
for a Christmas present. Mine is just worn out. 

Santa Claus [pulling horn from pocket and giving to 
him] : Here you are! Now I want you to blow this 
until you get a lot of Mother Goose’s family together, 
and go give the poor old lady a Christmas surprise. She 
is all alone and needs her children to cheer her up. 

Jack Horner: Poor Mother Goose; what a shame to for¬ 
get her! But I am Jack Horner and I was so busy sit¬ 
ting in the corner— 

Santa Claus: Yes; busy putting in your thumb to pull 
out a plum! Now you both get busy and I will meet you 
at Mother Goose’s at—say—well, about dinner-time. 

Jack Horner : All right. 

Now, Boy Blue, go blow your horn, 

Call forth her children on Christmas morn, 

And tell them to go without delay 
To surprise Mother Goose on Christmas Day. 

Boy Blue: I’ll [Blows blast on horn] get them started 
[Blows] all right. [Goes off blowing ham, followed by 
Jack Horner.] 

curtain 


SCENE III— Mother Goose standing by large chair 

Mother Goose [coming down to front] : 

Alack and alas! Oh, deary me! 

Such a lonesome time I never did see. 

The day is called merry, but I sit forlorn— 

Not even Boy Blue with his tooting horn 
Has come to greet me on Christmas morn. 

Though of famous children I have a score, 

They remember Mother Goose no more. 

[Sits in chair and bows head in hands.] 


78 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Enter Santa Claus and all the characters 

[They arrange themselves quietly about her in a semi¬ 
circle, facing front, with line back of Mother Goose's 
chair. Boy Blue blows horn loudly.] 

All : Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 

Mother Goose [sitting up quickly] : Why! Mercy! What 
does this mean ? How you did frighten me. 

Santa Claus : It merely means that some of your famous 
children and myself have stepped in to wish you a— 

All: Merry Christmas! 

Mother Goose: Oh, how glad I am to see you all. You 
know I am an old, old lady and— 

Santa Claus [bowing] : Indeed, Madam Goose, you can’t 
be very old, to judge from your looks. 

Jill: Well, it seems as if Jack and Jill have been going 
up the hill for most a thousand years. 

Santa Claus: Tut, tut! Truth isn’t made of elastic, so 
don’t try to stretch it. I insist that Mother G Dose looks 
real young. [Bows.] 

Mother Goose : Thank you, good Santa Claus. Now, will 
you stand here by me while I greet my dear children? 
[Santa and Mother Goose stand at center of stage. 
The others come forward, one at a time, bow to them, 
then face front while speaking, returning again to place 
in the semi-circle.] 

Boy Blue: 

Boy Blue has left the cows in the corn, 

And come with merry blasts of his horn, 

To give you greetings this Christmas morn. 

[Blows hzrn.] 

Miss Muffet : 

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, 

Eating her curds and whey; 

But I left my repast and hastened here fast, 

My Christmas greeting to pay. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


79 


Humpty-Dumpty : 

Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall, 

And I almost got a dreadful fall; 

But I jumped off spry that here I might fly, 

To pay you a Christmas call. 

Jack: 

Jack and Jill went up the hill 
To get some water, and then, 

Before we ever reached the top, 

We hurried down again. 

Jill: 

Because we wanted to come along 

With all this merry Christmas throng 

To our Mother Goose, famed in story and song. 

Bo-Peep : 

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, 

But never mind, they Ml safely keep 
While we assemble here to tell 
Dear Mother Goose we wish her well. 

Simple Simon : 

Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair; 

Said Simple Simon to the pieman: “I won’t taste 
your ware. 

I am hungry, but what is the use ? 

I’m going to visit my good Mother Goose.” 

Mistress Mary : 

Mistress Mary is quite contrary, 

Because her garden won’t grow; 

But we’ve come to wish you a Merry Christmas. 

In spite of the cold and snow. 

Queen of Hearts : 

The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, 

Upon a Christmas day; 


80 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Knave of Hearts [ carrying a plate of tarts ] : 

But the Knave of Hearts, he stole the tarts, 

And carried them away; they are fine for Christmas— 
Have one, I pray. 

[Passes them to Mother Goose and Santa, who each 
take one to eat.] 

Mother Hubbard : 

Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard, 

But found it empty still; 

Though my dog and I are hungry, 

I can say Merry Christmas with right goodwill. 

Santa Claus : Never mind, Mother Hubbard; we are go¬ 
ing to have some dinner here before long—a regular feast 
that will make you forget that your cupboard is empty. 

Woman, Who Lives in Shoe: 

Here comes the old woman who lives in a shoe; 

I have so many children it is more than I can do 
To buy them each a present for a Christmas day— 

How can I buy when I have no money to pay ? 

Santa Claus: Never mind, poor woman, *T will help you 
out with presents. Here; take this to Mary [hands her 
a doll from, his pocket] and this to John [hands over a 
knife] and this to Peter [gives her a top] and this to 
Nellie [another doll] and this to the baby [gives her a 
rattle]. And here is some candy for them all. [Gives 
her a bag. She puts all the gifts in a large pocket in her 
skirt.] 

Woman Who Lives in Shoe : Thank you, Santa Claus. You 
haven’t some molasses with you, have you? I would like 
a little to put on their bread. 

Santa Claus: No, I haven’t any. It’s so horrid sticky to 
carry, you know. v 

Mother Goose : And here is Cross Patch. 

All : Oh, why are you cross, Cross Patch ? 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


81 


Cross Patch [ laughing ] : Why, I’m not! I got so many 
nice presents for Christmas that I am not cross a bit. I 
feel like wishing the whole world a- 

All : [ waving tlieir hands] : A merry- Christmas! 

Tommy Tucker: This is Tommy Tucker who sings for his 
supper. 

Santa Claus : Good, Tommy; just sing us a song and we 
will all join in and help you. 

Santa Claus and Characters [sing]: 

Tune: sweet bye and bye 

We have met on this glad Christmas day; 

On this merriest day of the year; 

Our respects to our good dame to pay; 

Mother Goose, whom we all love so dear. 

Refrain: 

Mother Goose; Mother Goose; Merry Christmas we wish 
you to-day; 

Mother Goose; Mother Goose; please accept our best wishes 
we pray. 

We could sing of her wonderful fame, 

But you know it, so what is the use? 

For the whole world has oft heard her name, 

You have all read the rhymes of Mother Goose. 

[Refrain as before.] 

Mother Goose [rising and bowing]: Thank you, my chib 
dren. You have made me very happy, indeed. A short 
time ago I thought myself neglected and forlorn, but 
your kindness has filled me with the spirit of Christmas. 

Cross Patch : I do wish we had a nice present for Mother 
Goose. How dreadful to come without a Christmas gift 
for her. 

Santa Claus: Now, don’t you fret, Cross Patch. What am 
I here for? Isn’t it my work to furnish the presents? 



82 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


[Bows to Mother Goose] Good dame, please accept this 
little gift from us all, with best wishes for- 

All : A merry Christmas! [He gives her a copy of Mother 
Goose rhymes.] 

Mother Goose : Oh, how lovely! A hook with all my writ¬ 
ings in it. And full of pictures, too! Dear me, it makes 
me feel quite proud to think I wrote all of these. 

All : Hurrah for Mother Goose! 

Mother Goose : Thank you all for your kindness to me. I 
hope as the years pass you will each seek to bring joy to 
sad hearts at Christmas time. Remember that you will 
be the happiest when you are making some one else 
happy. 

Santa Claus: Yes, that is so. 

Mother Goose: Love and cheer are the best Christmas 
gifts, and you will always find plenty of people to whom 
you can give them. 

Santa Claus: That’s right! 

Mother Goose : l^ow let us wish the whole world a- 

All [waving hands] : Merry Christmas! 


SQUIRE HAWLEY’S CHRISTMAS 

Marie Irish 

FOR SIX BOYS AND FIV^ GIRLS OF THE GRAMMAR GRADES 
CHARACTERS 

Squire Hawley; Mrs. Hawley, his wife; George and Nora, the sbn 
and daughter; Reverend Williams; Katie, the maid; Mrs. Bass; 
Josie and Frank, her two little children. 

COSTUMES 

Squire Hawley : Business suit; hair slightly gray; mustache and 
goatee. 

Mrs. Hawley: Neat, dark, house gown; hair done in matronly way; 
glasses. 

George and Nora: Well-dressed young people of about seventeen 
and nineteen. 




DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


83 


Reverend Williams: Long coat; white collar and tie; tall hat. 
Katie: Black dress; white apron; collar and cuffs. 

Mrs. Bass and Children: Yery plain, common clothes. 

STAGE ARRANGEMENT 

FIrst scene: A cozy room in the Hawley home; table with books; 
some rocking-chairs. Second scene: The Bass home; very plain 
room; some kitchen chairs and a small table. 


SCENE I—Squire Hawley’s Objection 
Discovered, Mr. and Mrs. Hawley, George and Nora. 

Mrs. Hawley: How nice it is that Christmas is almost 
here again. I think it is the best season of the year. 

Nora : Oh, I just love Christmas! Papa, are you going to 
get me a new ring for a present ? 

Squire Hawley : I don’t think I ’ll pay any attention to 
Christmas this year; I’m tired of the foolishness. 

Nora: Why, papa, you are fooling! We can’t get along 
without Christmas. 

Mrs. Hawley : Certainly not. We have never missed hav¬ 
ing a good time on Christmas since we were married. 

George: Why, father, you aren’t tired of Santa^Claus at 
your young age, are you? [Laughs.] 

Squire Hawley: Well, I mean what I say. I don’t see any 
use in spending a lot of money and fooling away time on 
a silly custom like that. It doesn’t do us any good. I’m 
just tired of it all. 

Mrs. Hawley: Why, James, I am ashamed to hear you 
talk that way. I think that Christmas, with its merry 
cheer, its goodwill, its spirit of sympathy and generosity, 
is splendid and does us all good. I am sure you don’t 
want to miss it this year. 

Nora: I am certain I’d rather miss any other day in the 
year than Christmas. 

George : Oh, father is just trying to scare you! 


84 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Squire Hawley: No, I am serious. We have kept this 
foolishness up every year since I can remember; but you 
children are too old now for it and we won’t make any 
fuss. 

Nora: Why, papa, I didn’t know people ever got too old to 
enjoy Christmas. 

Squire Hawley [gruffly] : Nonsense! It is just a foolish 
habit. Crops were poor this year; that best roan colt had 
to die; one of my tenants had bad luck and could pay 
only half of his rent, and I don’t feel in any humor to 
fuss over Christmas. We will pay no attention to it and 
I don’t want to hear any more about it. [Goes to back of 
room; sits down and begins to read. Mrs. Hawley and 
children come down to front.] 

Mrs. Hawley [ anxiously ] :, I don’t see what ails him. He 
never acted so before. 

Nora : I will go and talk to him. [Goes back and puts hand 
on his shoulder.] Oh, papa, don’t you think it will be 
lovely for us to have a nice Christmas tree, and have 
uncle Henry’s and aunt Mary’s folks here? We haven’t 
had a tree for two years; let’s have a fine one this year. 

Squire Hawley [waving her off] : I don’t want to hear 
any more about Christmas. [She sits down disheartened.] 

Mrs. Hawley [to George] : How dreadful! I will go and 
talk to him. [Goes back to Squire.] Now, James, don’t 
act this way. You know we can afford to observe Christ¬ 
mas, even if we have lost a little money. Let’s all go over 
to brother William’s for the day. They want us to come 
and we can-- 

Squire Hawley : No, no, NO ! Go away and stop talking 
about this. [She sits, looking sadly at Nora.] 

George [aside] : Guess I’ll have to talk to him. [Goes 
back.] Come father, don’t make mother and Nora feel 
bad. You’ve got a good bank account. Let’s all go down 
to aunt Lizzie’s and stay several days. The city is going 
to have a fine ice carnival, Christmas day—going to be 
great—let’s go! Christmas only comes once a year 
and- 



DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


85 


Squire Hawley [jumping up] : Will you stop this Christ¬ 
mas business? I said we wouldn’t have any Christmas. 
[Goes from room, walking angrily.] 

George : Well, if he isn’t the limit! 

Nora [wiping eyes] : No Christmas! How horrid! 

Mrs. Hawley: I don’t see what he is thinking of. I am 
afraid he must be going to be sick. I hope it isn’t appen¬ 
dicitis. Oh, dear! 

George: Come on, Nora. Old Santa Claus isn’t dead, yet. 
Let’s go over and see the Morrisons. 

Nora [sadly] : All right. [Exeunt Nora and George.] 

Enter Katie 

Katie: If you plaze ma’am, the preacher is here. I think 
he has come to make yez a call, an’ he is after wantin’ to 
know if yez are at home. 

Mrs. Hawley: Why, of course we are at home. You may 
show him in here, Katie. 

Katie: All right, ma’am. He looks like a rale nice man, 
but sure he ain’t so handsome as Policeman Mulvaney, 
ma’am. [Exit.] 

Mrs. Hawley : Perhaps the minister can tell me what to do 
with James. I’ll ask him. 

Enter Reverend Williams 

Reverend Williams: Good afternoon, Mrs. Hawley. I 
hope I find you well. [Shakes hands and they stL] 

Mrs. Hawley : Quite well, thank you, but I am in a little 
trouble. 

Reverend Williams: Trouble? That is too bad; perhaps I 
can help you in some way. 1 shall be only too glad, if I 
can. 

Mrs. Hawley : The truth is, my husband has taken a queer 
notion that Christmas is all a piece of foolishness and 
refuses to let us pay any attention to it this year. What 
can I do with him? 

Reverend Williams : Perhaps he does not really mean it. 
Most people enjoy the Christmas festivities. 


86 THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 

Mrs. Hawley: He seems very set about it. I wish you 
could give him a good talking to. 

Reverend Williams : Sometimes that only makes a person 
the more stubborn. I wonder if we can’t work some 
scheme on him; get him interested in some Christmas 
plan without his knowing it. You know the way to man¬ 
age a man is not to let him know you are managing him. 
Let me think. [Walks back and forth, thinking.] I have 
it. I believe I can get him interested all right. Just let 
me have a chance to talk with him. 

Mrs. Hawley: I’ll send him in here at once.. [Exit.] 

Reverend Williams [musing ]: I have heard that if you 
want to drive a pig into a pen you should pretend you 
want him to go the other way, so I’ll try that plan with 
Squire Hawley. 


Enter Squire Hawley 

Squire Hawley : Ah, Elder Williams, I am glad to see you. 
How are you to-day? [Shakes hands. They sit.] 

Reverend Williams: Very well, Squire Hawley. Fine 
weather we are enjoying. I have a little matter of busi¬ 
ness to attend to, which I thought perhaps you might 
help me with. 

Squire Hawley : Certainly, if there is anything I can do, 
just let me know. 

Reverend Williams: Rather an unpleasant matter, but 
these things must be done. It is the widow Bass— poor 
woman, you know—with two children—who has been 
sick and is unable to pay her rent. Of course, you can’t 
expect landlords to furnish rent free, so she is to be 
turned out. I was wondering if you couldn’t let us use 
one of your teams to move her things. I do not know 
where the poor woman will go, but I suppose we can find 
a little place somewhere. 

Squire Hawley : Why, it is a shame to turn her out right 
in winter. Isn’t there someway it can be arranged? 

Reverend Williams: Not that I know of. We might take 
up a collection to pay the rent and buy some of the things 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


87 


they need, but just at this time of the year people have 
so much expense that I hesitate to ask for aid. 

Squire Hawley : But it is a shame—a shame, sir, to turn 
a poor woman out just at Christmas time—a merry 
Christmas she will have. 

Reverend Williams: Oh, well, this Christmas business is 
a little old. A number of people do not pay any attention 
to it any more, and I think Mrs. Bass will have to make 
the best of her troubles. Do you think you can help me a 
little about getting her moved ? 

Squire Hawley: No, sir! I won’t help turn any poor 
woman out just at Christmas. Don’t you think those 
two children want to enjoy Christmas? 

Reverend Williams: Oh, tut, tut! You are making too 
much fuss over Christmas. Business is business, Squire 
Hawley. Who is there to play the part of Santa Claus 
to these folks? 

Squire Hawley : You are the first minister I ever met who 
had no Christmas spirit. I can play the part of Santa 
Claus—yes, sir, and I will, too. I know three men who 
will help me. 

Reverend Williams [hesitatingly] : Oh, well, if you can 
see that there is money to pay the rent, buy some pro¬ 
visions, get a few Christmas presents for the children and 
so forth, I shall be very glad to give Mrs. Bass a Christ¬ 
mas surprise. [Aside.] My plan is working finel 

Squire Hawley : I will attend to it; she shall have a merry 
Christmas. 

Reverend Williams: Thank you; thank you. I will see 
you again about the plans. I really must be going now. 
Good afternoon, Squire Hawley. 

Squire Hawley: Good afternoon, Elder Williams. Call 
again. [Exit Reverend Williams.] 

Enter Mrs. Hawley and Nora 

Mrs. Hawley : Has the minister gone ? 

Squire Hawley: Yes. A cold-hearted man—no Christmas 
spirit! I’ll show him. Nora, I believe you said you 
wanted a Christmas tree. You just fix up the best one 


88 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


yon can, for I'm going to ask the widow Bass and her 
children to come. 

Nora : Why, papa, I thought- 

Squire Hawley [loudly] : Never mind. Do as I say. Ask 
Henry and Mary’s folks here and we’ll have a big time. 

Mrs. Hawley: Certainly, James. We will do whatever 
yon say. [Aside to Nora.] Don’t say anything to oppose 
him. 

Squire Hawley: I’ll show that preacher! Say, I’ve got 
some old togs I wore several years ago when I was Santa 
Clans. I ’ll dress up in them and do things in style down 
at Bass’s. I’ll show them what Christmas means. [Strikes 
attitude and Mrs. Hawley and Nora smile upon him as 
curtain drops.] 

CURTAIN 


SCENE II—A Christmas Surprise 
Discovered, Mrs. Bass and the Two Children 

Jennie: Isn’t Santa Claus going to bring us any presents? 

Frank: And aren’t we going to have any Christmas din¬ 
ner, mama? 

Jennie : Oh, I wish I could have a dolly, even if it was just 
a little one. 

Frank : I wish I could have some new mittens, so I could 
shovel snow. 

Mrs. Bass: I am afraid we can’t have any Christmas this 
year; you know I was sick so long. Perhaps next year 
we can have a better time. [Aside.] How can I tell them 
we may be turned into the street before night? [Wipes 
eyes.]. There can be no merry Christmas for my poor 
children. 

Frank : Don’t feel bad, mama. When I get big we ’ll have 
a fine Christmas, with lots of nice things. [A knock is 
heard.] 

Jennie: Oh, maybe it is Santa Claus. [Runs to door.] 



DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


89 


Enter Squire Hawley as Santa Claus 

Santa: Good-morning, madam. Good-morning, children. 
Will you tell me who lives here? 

Frank: Mrs. Bass does; I ? m Frank, and this is my sister 
Jennie. 

Santa : Mrs. Bass! Why, that is just the place I was look¬ 
ing for. I couldn’t get around last night, so I had to 
come this morning to bring you some Christmas things. 
Here, madam [ gives a slip to Mrs. Bass] is a receipt for 
your rent. That is a little present from some of Santa’s 
good helpers. This basket [points to large basket which 
he set upon floor as he entered] holds a lot of good things 
to eat, and outside you will find some coal. 

Children [dancing about]: Oh, goody, goody! We’re 
going to have a real Christmas after all. 

Mrs. Bass [wiping eyes] : Oh, sir, you do not know what a 
load you have lifted from my mind. I thought there was 
no one who cared whether we ha(} any Christmas. I can’t 
say how glad I am to know there really is some of the 
Christmas spirit I’ve heard about. You don’t know how 
happy you have made us. 

Jennie: But—but—didn’t you bring—a—dolly? 

Santa: Say, now, I forgot to tell you. There is a big 
Christmas tree over at my house and I want you folks 
to go with me right off. I just believe there is a dolly. 
[To Mrs. Bass :] Now just get ready as soon as you can, 
for my horses are waiting. You are going to have a 
Merry Christmas with us. 

Jennie: Oh, we’ll get ready right off. 

Mrs. Bass: It will take us only a few minutes. [She and 
children hurry from room.] 

Santa [musing] : Say, this is the best time I’ve had for 
years. The idea of my saying this Christmas business is 
all foolishness! Why, I wouldn’t have missed this for 
anything. I tell you, if you want to have a merry Christ¬ 
mas, just get to work and make somebody else have a 
merry one. Christmas is all right, and it is more blessed 
to give than to receive. 

curtain 


90 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


CHRISTMAS DOINGS 

FOR FOUR GIRLS 

First Girl: 

What do you do at your house when Christmas Eve is 
nigh? 

Second Girl: 

We stretch a line at the chimney side, 

And Mother sees it is strongly tied; 

Then hang our stockings, and go to bed, 

And, just as soon as our prayer is said, 

We wonder and guess till asleep we fall, 

What Santa Claus has for one and all. 

Then long before daylight, we haste to pull 
From the line by the chimney our stockings full; 

And that’s what we do at our house, 

What do you do at your house when Christmas eve is 
nigh ? 

Third Girl : 

We have in the parlor a Christmas tree; 

And each has his own little mystery 
In hanging upon the branches green 
His gifts for the others, by them unseen. 

Then mother goes in, the candles to light, 

And everything is so gay and bright, 

That you ought to be there our joy to see, 

When w T e have our gifts from the Christmas tree; 

And that’s what we do at our house. 

But what do you do at your house when Christmas eve is 
nigh? 

Fourth Girl : 

We hear in the evening a rousing ring; 

We hurry the door to open fling, 

And sure as we live, with his long white hair, 

And his jolly red face, Santa Claus is there! 

He opens his pack, and with laugh and shout, 

We take the presents he tosses about. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


91 


Then he’s off; but, just after his visit is o ’er, 

Uncle John comes in at the other door! 

And that’s what we do at our house. 

What do you do at your house when Christmas eve is 
nigh? 

First Girl : 

We, too, hang up our stockings; but mother says 
One thing we must do—all Christmas days— 

Just as sure as they come—just as long as we live, 

Some gifts to the poor we must always give. 

So a basket she fills on Christmas eve, 

And tells us just where our gifts to leave. 

Would you know how the best time at Christmas is 
found ? 

Help Santa Claus carry his basket around; 

For that’s what we do at our house! 


FATHER CHRISTMAS AND HIS FAMILY 

Harriette Wilbur 

for fourteen boys and eleven girls of the intermediate 

AND GRAMMAR GRADES 

CHARACTERS 

Father Christmas 
Sirloin 

• Misrule 

Carol 
Minced-Pie 
Baby-Cake 
Plum-Pudding 
Gambol 
Post-and-Pair 
Mumming 
Wassail 

Twelfth-Night King 
Offering 
Yule-Log 
New Year’s Gift 
Holly 
Mistletoe 


* Eis Children 



92 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Christmas Turkey 
Santa Claus 
Christmas Greeting 
New Year’s Greeting 
Christmas Tree 
POINSETTIA 


► Eis Grandchildren 


Christmas Stocking 
Christmas Package 


| Eis Great-Grandchildren 


This exercise, as given, requires fourteen boys' and eleven girls. If 
this is more than desired, some of the less familiar ones may be 
omitted. Father Christmas and his Children will be the larger boys 
and girls; the Grandchildren will be the smaller ones; the Great- 
Grandchildren will be the smallest of all. No masks are worn, unless 
it be the ordinary black half-mask that just covers the eyes. 


COSTUMES— Boys 


Father Christmas: Long red -robe trimmed with cotton-batten; 
long white hair and whiskers, holly crown, and a large scepter trimmed 
with mistletoe and other greens. Wears an immense pair of bowed 
glasses, rather than a mask. Sirloin: A complete suit of dark red, 
made in imitation of Falstaff’s garments. A soft ‘ ‘ liberty-cap’ ’ of red. 
Carries a red banner on which is the gold lettering: Sirloin. Should be 
made to look rather stout. Misrule: A velvet cap, with a sprig of 
green or a plume. A short green cloak, great yellow ruff, and a suit 
of yellow knee-breeches and coat. Ribbons, laces and beads of all 
kinds are sewn on here and there, to add to the fantastic effect of 
the costume. Wears strings of bells about each knee and a necklace 
of them. Carries a gilt crown on his scepter. (Consult some pictures 
of this character for details of costume.) Carol: In a long brown 
coat, with a red cap. Carries a flute and a sheet of music or a song- 
book. Turkey: Wears a tight black sweater and tight black stock¬ 
ings pulled over his trousers, reaching to hips. Turkey feathers are 
sewn on his sleeves, tapering down to the wrists. A feather duster, 
with the handle lying along his backbone, underneath the sweater, 
and kept in position by a tight belt or by a string about the neck, 
will furnish the tail. On his head a tiny red cap, with a red-flannel 
“wattle” hanging off the beak. This boy walks partly bent at the 
waist. Gambol : A Pierrot costume of white with bla-ck rosettes. 
Fost-and-Pair : Yellow doublet; red, long hose; black sleeves. Cape 
slung from one shoulder by a scarf diagonally across the breast. His 
doublet, which reaches half-way to the knees, is geometrically trimmed 
with playing-cards, and a fringe of them borders the lower edge. He 
also wears a circlet of these cards on his head, like a crown; this is 
easily made by pasting the cards to a band of cloth, or by stringing 
them on two strings. New Year’s Gift: A long white domino, with 
hood. A belt of gilt paper links, tied with long ends. Mumming: 



DIALOGUES, EXEECISES, PLAYS 


93 


A flowered calico jester’s suit; fool’s cap and bells; a small stick 
with a big rubber ball swinging from the end, or a bauble. Eides a 
hobby-horse and carries a small box suspended from his neck. Offer* 
ing: A short brown “Bobin-Hood” costume. Carries a box which 
he jingles from time to time, and walks with a cane. Wears a long 
brown cape, that covers him from neck to heels, and a brown cap. 
The cape may be brocaded with circles of gilt or silver paper. Yule- 
Log : A long, scant, sleeveless surplice of brown cambric, trimmed with 
shreds of bark. Brown or black hose, slippers and sleeves. A cap of 
bark,- or a cloth one trimmed with bark. Drags a sled. Twelfth- 
Night King: Knee-breeches and coat of pale blue cambric. Long 
purple robe trimmed with (cotton-batten) ermine; a gilt crown. 
His scepter is a large round cake (of pasteboard covered with curled 
tissue-paper) on a long wand. Santa Claus: Begulation costume, 
with a big bag of toys. Christmas Package: Wears a tight black 
sweater and long black stockings reaching to the hips. Bed may be 
worn, if preferred, or white. A large rectangular pasteboard box 
covered with white cambric is slipped over the boy’s body, and kept 
in place under the arms by suspenders of wide holly ribbon. The box 
is wrapped in this ribbon, and decorated with Christmas stamps and 
stickers. 


COSTUMES— Girls 

Minced-Pie: A brown dress, with numerous black and yellow circles 
one inch in diameter pasted thickly about on the skirt, waist and 
sleeves. A circle of pasteboard pie-pans is about her body, and an¬ 
other one encircles the upper part of her skirt. There is a pie-pan 
on each shoulder, and she wears one on her head, tied down with a 
brown sash. Baby-Cake: A brown dress and a great white bib. Car 
ries a large cake, which may be a round or square box covered with 
curled or twisted tissue-paper. A necklace and head-wreath of cookies. 
PLum-Pudding : Full dress of brown cambric, gathered about the neck 
and below the knees. A bag of the brown is gathered to the neck of 
the dress, leaving an open space for the face, and is tied at the top of 
the head, like a sack. Sprigs of holly decorate each shoulder. 
Wassail : Girl in a maid’s cap and apron, carrying a big brown bowl 
trimmed with ribbons and holly. Mistletoe : Short green dress 
trimmed with white paper polka-dots. Wreath of mistletoe on head, 
and a sprig in her hand. Holly : Short green dress, trimmed with red 
paper polka-dots. Wreath of holly on head, and a sprig in her hand. 
Poinsettia: Short green dress, liberally brocaded with red paper 
poinsettia leaves. Carries a plant or an artificial spray in her hand, 
and wears an enormous leaf on her head. Christmas Tree: Straight 
sack apron of brown lining, thickly covered with “needles” of green 
tissue paper. A high-pointed hat of the brown, covered with the 
green needles. A sprig of evergreen in each hand. Christmas 
Greeting: Bed dress. Bears a great, oblong, card-shaped shield of 
white pasteboard, with the gilt lettering: 1 Wish You a Merry Christ- 


94 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


mas. New Year’s Greeting: Blue dress. Bears a card with the 
lettering: 1 Wish You a Happy New Year. Christmas Stocking: 
In a long white night-gown, with a nightcap. On the front of her 
gown is a great stocking of red cambric, reaching from shoulders to 
knees. Another stocking at back of gown. 

SCENE 

Father Christmas’ living room. A big easy-chair is the only re¬ 
quired property, but the walls may be decorated as elaborately as 
desired with evergreen and tissue garlands, knots of cotton-batten, 
Christmas pictures, toys, gilt stars, tissue bells, etc. 

[Enter Father Christmas, followed by his children 
grouped by twos: Twelfth-Night King and Gambol; 
Sirloin and Baby-Cake; Minced-Pie and Plum-Pud¬ 
ding; Misrule and Wassail; Carol and Mumming; 
Post-and-Pair and Yule-Log; Offering and New 
Year’s Gift; Holly and Mistletoe. Father Christ¬ 
mas takes his seat, while the others march about the 
room, up and down the center, and in several different 
fancy figures, finally stopping in a single line around the 
rear and sides of room.] 

Father Christmas [adjusting his glasses] : Well, my chil¬ 
dren, December is well started, and it is time we were 
making onr plans. Is it true, this charge they are mak¬ 
ing, that the spirit of hearty festivity which formerly 
^celebrated my special season is on the decline? Am I 
being forgotten in the modern rush of business? Am I 
becoming worn out with too great age ? To be sure, nine¬ 
teen hundred years and more is a good age, but though 
I may be somewhat grayer than I once was, my heart is 
still warm and young. What do you think, my fine 
family ? Some of you were most popular in times past— 
does the world still welcome you? 

Misrule [stepping forward and shaking his head dole - 
fidly] : Times are bad with me, Father Christmas. I am 
absolutely forgotten, everywhere. Ah me! when I remem¬ 
ber the gayety of Elizabeth’s court—then I was in the 
heyday of my reign. I was the acknowledged ruler of 
the Christmas season—the Lord of Misrule; the Abbot of 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


95 


Unreason; the Master of Merry Disports; I was even 
called the Christmas Prince, or the King of Christmas. 
I was feasted at the king’s court; at the manor-house; 
at the village inn; and all united to do me honor. Even 
kings obeyed my commands. And what a following I 
had in my mock court!—chamberlains, chancellors, poets, 
clowns, jugglers, jesters, tumblers, drummers, fifers, 
heralds, footmen, marshals, pages of honor, messen¬ 
gers,— 

Father Christmas [interrupting, with a wave of his 
hand] : I remember the hilarity of your reign at the 
Christman season, and six weeks of it at a time was en¬ 
tirely too long. Perhaps it is just as well, Misrule, that 
the Roundheads did away with you. You were a bit too 
gay for any season of the year. Come, Sirloin, how go 
the years with you ? Have you, too, lost favor ? 

Sirloin [advancing with a swagger ] : By no means, Father 
Christmas. Since the day King Charles gave me my 
title, I have enjoyed favor with all men, at all times. I 
am now no more popular at Christmas than at any other 
season of the year. Since the discovery of America, I 
have been sharing my duties with my young son, Christ¬ 
mas Turkey. I’d like to have you see him. [Goes off 
and returns with Christmas Turkey.] Isn’t he a fine 
lad, Father 1 [Turns him around and looks him over 
proudly.] And so popular with everyone, high and low, 
in the four corners of the globe. Christmas dinner is 
hardly Christmas dinner without cne of his drumsticks 
to beat a tattoo on the heaped-to-overflowing plate, and 
his wishbone to crack after the feast is over. 

Father Christmas : I am pleased to know that you have so 
strong an ally in your son. May you both live long, and 
wax heartier with the passage of time. [Sirloin and 
Turkey fall back into position, with deep bows.] And 
Minced-Pie, Baby-Cake, and Plum-Pudding—are you 
still welcomed as in olden times? 

[These three advance with demure courtesies, and speak 
together] : Yes, Father we are welcome. 



96 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Baby-Cake : And many a toothsome dainty beside, Father, 
not forgetting to mention the candies that are devoured 
each year. 

Father Christmas [&s they retire to position] : Very good, 
daughters; very good. And you, Carol? Is your clear 
voice still heard in the calm frosty air of Christmas 
morning, telling some pretty story of the Nativity ? 

Carol [advancing with a bow] : I am about forgotten in 
the cities, and have never been well-known in America, 
except as the choir-boys honor me in the church services 
and the school-children in their exercises. But in some 
of the older countries in the rural districts, particularly 
in France and Wales, I am still celebrated by the waits 
going from door to door. With your permission, I will 
introduce my little daughter, a very popular child at the 
present time, particularly in America. 

Father Christmas : By all means. It is satisfying to know 
that new members are coming into the family to take the 
place of those who are becoming obsolete. 

Carol [entering with Christmas Greeting] : Christmas 
Greeting, Father. She reaches farther with her kind 
wishes than I with my voice. 

Father Christmas : You are a pleasing person, Christmas 
Greeting, and your sentiments are wholly kind and 
thoughtful. I hope you will grow more and more famous 
as time passes, though I would not like to have yop take 
the place of Carol altogether. Work together. How now, 
Gambol; what have you to say for yourself in these latter 
days? 

Gambol [coming forward with a bound] : Young and spry 
as ever, Father, as you see. Of course, I have changed 
my character slightly, in order to keep in favor, which 
perhaps accounts for my continued prosperity. Snap¬ 
dragon, hot-cockles, feed-the-dove, and several other 
games I have discarded, but blind-man ’s-buff, dancing, 
story-telling, riddles, forfeits, and others are still well- 
known. Then, there are the Christmas plays and exer¬ 
cises and pantomimes, and the juggling and fooleries of 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


97 


the practiced performers behind the footlights. On the 
whole, Father, I think I may safely say that I am as good 
as ever. But poor Wassail—I pity her. 

Father Christmas : And what is the matter with Wassail? 
How is it, daughter? 

Wassail [coming forward with a limp and one hand on her 
side ] : Poorly, Father. No one will have anything to do 
with me, and I am languishing to my grave for want of 
society. Even my name is well-nigh forgotten. And see, 
my bowl is quite empty, too. [Turns it upside down.] 

Father Christmas: Um-um. Well, daughter, perhaps it is 
just as well that you remain quietly at home here with 
me. To be sure, you were a merrymaker in the olden 
times; but, like Misrule, you were given to excesses. On 
the whole, one cannot regret your decline. New Year’s 
Gift, why do you shrink back like one half-afraid to be 
seen in company ? Is that your attitude of late ? 

New Year’s Gift [coming forward shyly] : Oh, there are 
a few places where I am welcomed each year, but, as a 
general rule, I have been superseded by my young daugh¬ 
ter. May I bring her in? [Goes out and returns with 
New Year’s Greeting.] Now isn’t she a neat little per¬ 
son, Father, if I do say it myself? 

Father Christmas: Why, she might be a twin sister of 
Christmas Greeting over there! 

New Year’s Gift [laughing] : A twin cousin, Father 
Christmas. [Leads her off to rear.] 

Father Christmas: And you, Post-and-Pair? Is your 
name still connected with the sports of the season, as in 
King James’ time? 

Post-and-Pair [dancing forward lightly] : Oh, la-la-la! 
Not my name—I changed that long ago. But under the 
guise of several popular card-games, I am the same 
sociable and carefree fellow that I always was. But I 
dare Twelfth-Night King there to say the same for him¬ 
self. 

Father Christmas: Step forward, Twelfth-Night King, 
and give me an account of your fortunes of late. 


98 


THE BEST CHRISMAS BOOK 


Twelfth-Night King: They are fairly good, Father. I 
have not extended my territory much beyond certain 
places in Europe, but, thanks to the lovers of cake and 
other such sweets, I have weathered the attacks of time 
and change. In London to this day, there is such an 
illumination of bakery windows on my special night, as 
is to be seen at no other time of the year. Cakes cut in 
all conceivable shapes—stars, castles, kings, camels, lions, 
sheep, cottages, churches—fill the shelves, until carried 
off by eager purchasers. Nor has my connection with 
the Three Wise Men been forgotten; in some parts of 
France the little children still run out along the country 
roads, with gifts of cake, fruits, and hay, for the Three 
Wise Men and their faithful camels; in other countries 
the Feast of the Kings is kept, with peas and beans and 
coins in the cakes, and other such sports. I am keeping 
up fairly w T ell, I may say. 

Father Christmas [peering about at Yule-Log] : Is that 
you I spy there, Yule-Log? Come forward and let me 
see how the world is using you. Must you walk and pull 
your own sled—you who used to ride in such triumph ? 

Yule-Log [dragging his sled wearily] : Even so, Father 
Christmas. Oh, the days of the open fireplace! I remem¬ 
ber yet how I crackled and flamed on the hearth while 
the feasting went on all about me. And the half-burned 
brand that was saved and treasured all year—that was 
an honor. To be sure, in some parts of the world, where 
the old-fashioned hearths are still used, I am brought in 
from the forest with ceremonies, and honored as of old. 
But the invention of the stove and the steam-heated 
house nearly caused my death! I escaped by a hair’s 
breadth! Of late, however, bungalows with wide fire¬ 
places are springing up, so I have begun to hope for a 
return of my one-time popularity. Still, I have my bless¬ 
ings, too; there’s a chip of the old block I would like to 
have you see, Father. [Goes out and brings in Christ¬ 
mas Tree.] Isn’t she a credit to the family? Getting 
prettier and more popular every year, too. Born in Ger- 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


99 


many; naturalized in America. Make your bow to Grand¬ 
father, Christmas Tree. 

Father Christmas: A fine addition to the family, I assure 
you, Yule-Log. The very sight of you must make the 
children dance with delight, Christmas Tree. 

Christmas Tree: Yes, indeed, sire, particularly when I 
wear my brilliant costume of lights, that sparkles so 
beautifully from tip to toe. 

Father Christmas: That reminds me of Mistletoe and 
Holly. And I see that you two twins are as inseparable 
as ever. Does the world treat you as well as ever ? 
[Mistletoe and Holly advance and courtesy as he speaks 
to them.] 

Holly: As well as ever, Father. Indeed, we have found 
it so difficult to supply the demand for Christmas dec¬ 
orations that no plant which remains green in December 
escapes us—pine, fir, box, laurel, cypress, myrtle—we use 
them all. 

Mistletoe : And we have of late years added a new assist¬ 
ant to our corps. She is a native American. May we 
introduce her, Father? 

Father Christmas: To be sure; to be sure. 

[They hiring in Poinsettia.] 

Holly: Poinsettia, Father Christmas. And she threatens 
to supplant me, in America, as a Christmas emblem. 

Poinsettia : But I cannot take the place of Mistletoe, sire, 
not having her charmed berries to make me of value. 

Father Christmas [laughing] : Ha, ha, ha! You are a 
bright little maid, however, Poinsettia, and an attractive 
addition to the family. We are glad to welcome you, 
and hope you will grow in fame with the years. [They 
retire to rear.] Now there is one member of the family I 
am very anxious to hear from. He always has had special 
charge of the poor, and as such was my right-hand man. 
Where is Offering? 

Offering [advancing hurriedly, throwing hack his cape ]: 
Here, Father. Perhaps you did not recognize me in my 
changed garb. It is the cloak of charity, which I now 


100 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


wear as an emblem of the new methods of work I have 
adopted. The poor no longer go about from house to 
house, at the Christmas season, asking for gifts of food 
and clothing and money, as formerly. Now the offerings 
are collected and distributed by the various charitable 
organizations under my direction. Those who wish to 
remember the needy at this season of the year, make their 
gifts to our several branches, and we make up the bas¬ 
kets. And, though I don’t wish to boast, I am delighted 
to report that seldom is a household missed. 

Father Christmas: Better than I had expected. And I 
hope, Offering, that you, above all members of my family, 
will never fail to do your best at the Christmas season. 
Mumming, you once accompanied Offering on his 
rounds; are you still co-partner with him in his good 
deeds ? 

Mumming [coming forward, carrying his hobby-horse] : 
Well, to be frank, Father, I have changed my tactics. 
Dancing the hobby-horse for collections of money is 
about forgotten; in but a few-out-of-the-way places is it 
practiced, and then more as a New Year’s entertainment. 
My son now fills my place, and very gracefully, too. He 
was born in Holland, but has long been a citizen of 
America, where he is particularly popular. Indeed, he 
has become, in that country, the chief representative of 
our family. Just wait until I find him. [Goes out and 
returns with Santa Claus, who is followed by Christ¬ 
mas Stocking and Christmas Package.] Santa Claus, 
Father Christmas. [Santa Claus sets down his bag and 
bows.] 

Father Christmas [rising and shaking Santa Claus by 
the hands] : Welcome, my child, a thousand times wel¬ 
come. I must acknowledge that my heart warms at the 
sight of you—you’re the picture of your old grandsire, 
lad, and right glad I am to see you. And who are your 
two followers—new members of the family ? 

Santa Claus: My two children, sire. Without them I 
could never make my Christmas rounds. They are young 
yet, but capable assistants when it comes to giving Child- 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


101 


hood a good time, on Christmas day. You see, the gifts 
I distribute personally I leave with Christmas Stocking 
to deliver, while the hundreds of other gifts that I am 
too overloaded to take I send by Christmas Package. And 
so, by their aid, all the gifts get safely to their destina¬ 
tion in time. 

Father Christmas : Santa Claus, you please me more than 
I can say. Christmas should be a time of giving, in which 
Childhood should have by far the greater share, because 
of the best gift that God ever gave to the world—the 
Christ-Child. You are bringing Childhood into its own, 
Santa Claus. In earlier days, children had very little 
part in the Christmas festivities; but you are going to 
change all that, I am sure, and your thoughtfulness for 
them will give you long life and prosperity in the ages 
to come. May your kingdom grow until it encompasses 
the whole earth. [To all ] : And now, you who have work 
to do in the coming season, be on your way. The time 
grows short, and there is much to do. Go, then, and never 
forget that your mission is to make Christmas time the 
happiest and best season of the whole year. 

Carol [stepping forward ] : One moment, Father Christ¬ 
mas. Your permission to sing a rousing song at parting. 

Father Christmas [sealing himself] : To be sure; to be 
sure; it will get us all into the spirit of the work. 

Carol [steps to the front, facing the other characters, who 
group themselves into three or four lines : We will sing 
to the honor of Father Christmas himself. [He heats the 
time with his song-hook and flute, while all sing 
heartily “Father Christmas/ 9 given on next page.] 

[Father Christmas leads the company about the stage, at 
the conclusion of the song, the others following in groups 
of twos. At last he halts hy his chair; as each couple 
passes they how and go off at exit, with the exception of 
Misrule and Wassail, who remain standing in one cor¬ 
ner of the stage, looking wistfully after the rest. Cur¬ 
tain.] 

[A pianist may play some pretty march for the entrance 
and exit marches, and may accompany the song.] 


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DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 103 

TROUBLE IN SANTA-CLAUS LAND 

Marie Irish 

FOR FIVE BOYS AND THREE GIRLS OF THE INTERMEDIATE 

GRADES 

CHARACTERS 

Santa Claus Madam Dollmaker 

Mrs. Santa Madam Candymaker 

Jack Benson, a boy from the Chief Toyman 
States Chief Hornman 

Amewgko, an Eskimo 


COSTUMES 

Santa Claus : Regulation costume. 

Mrs. Santa Claus: Long coat; warm hood. 

Amewoko: Fur cap; fur coat; bright sash around waist. 

Madam Dollmaker: Warm, dark skirt; sweater; warm cap or hood. 
Madam Candymaker: The same costume as that of the Chief Doll- 
Maker. 

Chief Toyman: Long, dark trousers; heavy coat; bright stocking- 
cap. 

Chief Hornman : The same costume as that of the Chief Toyman. 
STAGE ARRANGEMENT 

A plainly furnished room in Santa’s home, chairs, and for a table a 
good-sized box with opening toward the wall large enough for Jack to 
crawl into. Box should be covered with dark blanket or shawl, and 
there should be a number of toys upon it. 


SCENE I—The Plot 
Discovered, Jack Benson 

Jack: Well, I got here at last. My, but it was an awful 
trip! I most died on the way, but I just wouldn’t give 
up. I was determined to see what Santa Claus’ land 
looked like and I traveled here from way back in Minne¬ 
sota. I thought maybe Santa would be mad at me for 
coming, but he has been as nice a* pie to me. He has let 


104 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


me see everything in his workshops and he’s going to 
take me back to the States in his big sleigh when he goes 
with the presents. I don’t like Mrs. Santa Claus so well. 
She is sort of cross and bosses good old Santa an awful 
lot. Say, here she comes now, looking dreadful cross. 
Guess I’ll hide. [He crawls into box which should be 
out a few feet from the wall.] 

Enter Mrs. Santa 

Mrs. Santa [ crossly ] : That Santa Claus just makes me 
tired. He thinks because I’m a woman I should always 
stay here at home and let him do all the going. Every 
one talks about what a good-natured old man he is, and 
he ought to be when he has all the good times. But I’m 
going to get even with him this year. 

Enter Amewoko, Candymaker, Dollmaker, Toyman and 
Hornman 

Candymaker: We have come, good Madam Santa Claus, 
because we were told that you wanted to talk with us. 
How can we serve you? 

Toyman [ bowing ] : We are at your command. 

Mrs. Santa: The truth is, I have a plot in mind. You 
know Santa Claus always goes on the Christmas trip 
alone. Many a time I have begged him to let me go, too, 
but he always has a lot of excuses. I work here all the 
year, and it isn’t fair that I should never go for a trip. 

Hornman: Of course it isn’t. Why, Santa Claus doesn’t 
do much work. He just walks around and keeps the rest 
of us busy. I say some of us who spend the months mak¬ 
ing these Christmas presents ought to have a chance to 
help give them. Just think of the horns I make during a 
year. 

Dollmaker: Well, think of the work I do. You know very 
well that Christmas wouldn’t be any success without 
hundreds of dolls for presents. I don’t blame Mrs. Santa 
Claus for wanting to go on the Christmas trip, but I 
think I should go, too, so I can see how the little girls like 
my dolls. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


105 


Candymaker : As for that—what would Christmas be with¬ 
out all the candy, sugar plums and such things that I 
make for folks? Why, every one loves Christmas candy 
and just think of the amount of it I make during the 
year. I think I ought to have a chance to go along and 
help put it into stockings. 

Toyman: Well, I’ve always wanted to go down there in the 
States and see what Christmas is like. It isn’t very much 
fun to stay here always at work. I don’t blame Mrs. 
Santa Claus for wanting to take the trip. 

Amewoko : Me want to go Unitie States an ’ see Chris ’mas, 
too; me want to see all the nice, pretty ladies down there. 
Me no like um work here all time. 

Mrs. Santa: Well, I have determined to go this year. Of 
course Santa will not give his consent, so I’ll have to do 
some plotting. 

Dollmaker : I want to go along. I guess my dolls are the 
most important thing about Christmas. 

Hornman: Here, here; don’t forget all my thousands of 
horns. What would children do without them to toot- 
too-toot ? 

Toyman : Why, your horns are as nothing to all the toys I 
make to fill up Christmas stockings. Think of the woolly 
lambs; the curly dogs; the humming tops; the trains of 
cars; the- 

Candymaker [ interrupting ] : But my Christmas candies— 
surely I ought to go with Mrs. Santa Claus on this trip— 
and I’m going, too ! 

Amew^oko : Me, too! Me go see all nice, pretty ladies. Um- 

hum. 

Mrs. Santa: Why, dear me, we can’t all go! There will 
not be room for us in the sleigh; you know their won’t, 
with all the presents. 

Toyman: Well, Vm going. 

Dollmaker : Indeed, I shall go, too. 

Candymaker: You can’t leave me behind, so there! 

Hornman: Well, I’U go or know the reason why 

Amewoko : Me go toq um-hum, yes sir! 



106 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Mrs. Santa: Now do stop quarreling. You can’t all go. 7 
am going and I shall take- 

All the others: You must take me. 

Mrs. Santa : I won’t take any one if you do not keep still. 
Listen to my plan. You know Santa Claus always takes 
a nap before he starts away. I shall put a sleeping powder 
in some water and get him to drink it, so he will sleep 
until way past time for him to start. Then, while he is 
asleep, I shall take the reindeer and the presents and 
start on the Christmas journey. 

All the others : And 7 will go with you! 

Mrs. Santa : We will see who shall go. Come; let us get to 
work. [All exeunt.] 

Jack [crawling out from the box ]: Ho! So that is the plan. 
Give old Santa a powder to make him sleep until it is too 
late for his trip. Humph! I guess I’ll have something 
to say about that. I won’t stand it to see Santa Claus 
cheated that way. Folks down there don’t want Mrs. 
Santa Claus to bring the presents—she’s too cranky. 
Now, I’m going to see that Santa doesn’t drink that pow¬ 
der, and that he does get started on time! [Laughs and 
runs from room.] 

curtain 

SCENE II—Mrs. Santa Outwitted 
Discovered, Mrs. Santa Claus 

Mrs. Santa: Now I must get the powder fixed for Santa 
Claus, because it is nearly time for him to take his nap 
before starting on his long journey. [Pours some sugar 
out of a folded paper into a glass half filled with water.] 
There! That will make him sleep for hours and hours. 
I wonder what he is doing. [Exit.] 

Enter Jack hurriedly 

Jack: Here is where I play my game. [Runs to table; 
takes glass Mrs. Santa fixed, and pours out water into 
pail sitting on floor; then refills glass with fresh water 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


107 


from a pitcher.] Now, I guess this won't hurt good old 
Santa. I'll see that he gets started on time all right. 
The idea of a woman Santa Claus! [Exit.] 

Enter Santa 

Santa [yawning] : Oh, hum! I must get to sleep or I 
won't wake up in time to get an early start. My sleigh 
is all loaded ready to go; the reindeer are in fine shape, 
and the Christmas presents are great. I guess all the 
children down there in the States will be pleased with 
them. I do hope Mrs. Santa won’t begin to beg to go 
along. Land sakes, I can’t be bothered with a woman. 
Why, she would ask so many questions about things 
that I wouldn't get time to do half my work. 

Enter Mrs. Santa 

Mrs. Santa: Now, Santa dear, don’t you think you had 
better go to sleep, so you can get an early start with the 
presents? You look real tired. 

Santa: Yes, I think I’ll lie down right away. It's a 
dreadful hard trip, especially since I’m getting a little 
old. 

Mrs. Santa: Here; you better have a drink before you 
go, so you won’t get to coughing. [Hands him the glass.] 

Santa: Thank you. [Drinks water.] I’ll bring you a 
nice present up from the States; yes, two of them. 

Mrs. Santa [aside] : He doesn’t know that I’m planning 
to buy myself a lot of things down there like the ladies 
are wearing. I’ll fool him nicely. 

Santa: Well, I’ll get to sleep. [Stretches arms as he 
goes off.] 

Mrs. Santa: Now, I must get a nap right away, so I 
can get up in a short time and get ready to start. Ha, ha! 
Won’t Santa be surprised when he finds how I have out¬ 
witted him? [Exit.] 

Enter Jack 

Jack [dancing about the room] : Ho, ho! Everything is 
fine! Poor Mrs. Santa Claus; won’t she be surprised to. 


108 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


find herself left ? I pity Santa when he gets back home. 
Won’t she give it to him? Now, I am going to sleep a 
few minutes; then I’ll get Santa up and w T e will be on 
our way before the others can wake up. [Sits in a 
chair with his feet on a chair in front of him; slides 
down, closes eyes, and begins to snore. After a minute 
he awakens with a start and jumps up.] Dear me, I 
wonder how long I have slept. I think I’ll wake Santa 
Claus. [Goes out softly.] ' 

Enter Santa Claus and Jack 
Santa Claus [rubbing.his eyes] : Yes, I’m glad you woke 
me up. We better get off right away. We will keep real 
still so as not to wake the folks up. Mrs. Santa might 
scold if we disturbed her nap. I guess everything is 
ready, so we’ll hustle off. Wouldn’t do for old Santa 
Claus to be late, you know. 

Jack [anxiously] : Yes, sir, let’s get started. 

Santa: All right; here we go. [They exeunt softly.] 

Enter Mrs. Santa Claus a few minutes later 
Mrs. Santa: I think I better not wait any longer before 
I start on my wonderful journey. I guess I’ll call 
Amewoko and have him get the reindeer ready. Oh, 
here he comes now! 

Enter Amewoko rubbing eyes 
Amewoko: I guess we better start before long. Some¬ 
thing might happen to make Santa Claus wake up. I 
go see ’bout reindeer. [Exit.] 

Enter Toyman and Hornman 
Toyman : Well; here we are, ready to start. 

Mrs. Santa: Why, I can’t take you along. There isn’t 
room. 

Enter Candymaker and Dollmaker 
Dollmaker: Here I am, ready to start on our trip. 

Mrs. Santa: I told you I couldn’t take you. 

Toyman: I shall go, anyway. 

Hornman: I certainly shall go, too. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


109 


Candymaker: Nothing can keep me from going, either. 
Dollmaker: Indeed, / shall go without fail. 

Enter Amewoko 

.Amewoko [excitedly] : They gone! He gone! It gone! 
All gone! 

Toyman: What gone? Tell us. 

Amewoko : Sleigh gone ! Reindeer gone! Santa Claus 
gone! He play bad joke. 

Mrs. Santa : What! Santa gone ? [Runs out and returns 
immediately.] Yes, he has gone. Oh, dear! Oh, dear! 
[Sinks in chair.] Wait till he gets home! [Weeps.] 
Dollmaker: All my lovely trip spoiled. 

Candymaker : All my lovely trip spoiled. 

Amewoko: Me can’t see all nice, pretty ladies. 

CURTAIN 

THE CHRISTMAS MONTH 

Harriette Wilbur 

FOR THIRTY-TWO CHILDREN OF THE INTERMEDIATE AND GRAM¬ 
MAR GRADES 

COSTUMES 

(This symposium is given by one girl representing Christmas-tide, 
and thirty-one children for the days of the month. Christmas-tide 
wears a long wrap of red and green cambric, one whole side being 
made of red and the other side of green; it is trimmed liberally about 
neck, wrists, front and hem with cotton wadding, and sprinkled vrell 
with diamond-dust. Her cap is a long 11 stocking-cap , i ’ one-half being 
red and the other half green, the tw 7 o seams being placed at the 
front and back to match the robe. There is a band of the wadding 
about the face. She carries a large branch of evergreen, or a wreath 
of holly with red and green streamers. If wished, each of the Days 
may wear a cambric jacket of red or green, reaching to the knees and 
trimmed with wadding, though a special costume is not required. 
Each Day carries a small twig of evergreen or spray of holly. If 
desired, but fifteen or sixteen children may represent the Days, each 
speaking a second time. The calendar for the month is placed on 
an easel; it consists of thirty-one white cards, each about eighteen 
inches square, containing the figures for the days of the month; above 
is a long card containing the word: December, 19 ...) 


The Voice of Christmas-Tide 



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DIALOGUES, EXERCISES. PLAYS 


111 


Prelude: Song, “The Voice of Christmas-Tide/’ This 
may be sung by one child, two children, or a group, dressed 
m ordinary costume. 

Enter Christmas-Tide, taking her position by the easel. 
The placard, December 19 —, is already in place; she carries 
the cards for the Days, or they are on a small stand beside 
the easel. She places the card bearing the numeral 1 on 
the easel, and calls “December the First/’ whereupon first 
child enters, lays his tribute of evergreen or holly at her 
feet and recites his stanza; he goes off by another door, 
while Christmas-Tide covers card 1 by card 2, and an¬ 
nounces “December the Second.” In this manner are all 
the thirty-one days announced. 


December the First: 


I celebrate the birth of the Divine, 

And the return of the Saturnian reign; 

My songs are carols sung at every shrine, 

Proclaiming “Peace on earth, good-will to men.” 

— Longfellow. 


December the Second: 


Oh! holly branch and mistletoe, 

And Christmas chimes where’er we go. 

And stockings pinned up in a row! 

These are thy gifts, December! 

And if the year has made thee old, 

And silvered all thy locks of gold, 

Thy heart has never been a-cold 
Or known a fading ember. 

The whole world is a Christmas tree, 

And stars its many candles be. 

Oh! sing a carol joyfully. 

The year’s great feast in keeping! 

For once, on a December night, 

An angel held a candle bright, 

A nd led three wise men by its light 
To where a child was sleeping. 

—Harriet F. Blodgett . 


112 


THE BEST OHKISTMAS BOOK 


December the Third: 

In December ring 

Every day the chimes; 

Lond the gleemen sing 

In the streets their merry rhymes. 

Let us by the fire 
Ever higher, 

Sing them till the night expire! 

— Longfellow. 

December the Fourth : 

In furry pallyclad, 

His brows enwreathed with holly never sere, 

Old Christmas comes to close the waned year. 

— Bampfylde. 

December the Fifth: 

They served up salmon, venison, and wild boars, 

By hundreds, and by dozens, and by scores. 
Hogsheads of honey, kilderkins of mustard, 

Muttons, and fatted beeves, and bacon swine; 
Herons, and bitterns, peacocks, swan, and bustard, 
Teal, mallard, pigeons, widgeons, and, in fine, 
Plumpuddings, pancakes, apple-pies, and custard. 

December the Sixth : 

A man might then behold, 

At Christmas in each hall, 

Good fires to curb the cold, 

And meat for great and small; 

The neighbors were friendly bidden, 

And all had welcome true, 

The poor from the gates were not chidden, 

When this old cap was new. 

December the Seventh: 

Let’s dance and sing, and make good cheer, 

For Christmas comes but once a year. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


113 


December the Eighth: 

So now is come our joyful’st feast, 

Let every man be jolly; 

Each room with ivy leaves drest, 

And every post with holly. 

Though some churls at our mirth repine, 

Round your foreheads garlands twine; 

Down sorrow—it is none of mine— 

And let us all be merry, 

Now all our neighbors’ chimneys smoke, 

And Christmas logs are burning, 

Their ovens they with baked meats choke, 

And all their spits are turning. 

Without the door let sorrow lie; 

And if for cold it hap to die, 

We’ll bury’t in a Christmas pie, 

And evermore be merry. 

—George Wither. 

December the Ninth: 

When Rosemary and Bays, the poet’s crown, 

Are bawled in frequent cries throughout the town, 
Then judge the festival of Christmas near— 
Christmas, the joyous period of the year! 

Now with bright holly all the temples strow; 

With Laurel green, and sacred Mistletoe. 

—John Gay . 

December the Tenth : 

Go ye to the forest, 

Where the myrtles grow, 

Where the fir and cedar 
Bend beneath the snow. 

Cypress with the ivy 
Lovingly entwine; 

To make His temple glorious 
Bring the box and pine. 

—Arthur C. Coxe. 


114 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


December the Eleventh : 

Go seek, when Christmas snows discomfort bring, 
The counter spirit found in some gay church 
Green with fresh holly, every pew a perch 
In which the linnet or the thrush might sing 
Merry and loud, and safe from prying search, 
Strains offered only to the genial spring. 

—William Wordsworth. 

December the Twelfth: 


The mistletoe hung in the castle hall, 

The holly bush decked the old oak wall, 

The baron’s retainers were blithe and gay, 
Keeping the Christmas holiday. 

—Old Ballad. 


December the Thirteenth: 

Christmas is here; 
Winds whistle shrill, 
Icy and chill, 

Little care we; 

Little we fear 
Weather without, 
Sheltered about 
The mahogany-tree. 

December the Fourteenth : 


— Thackeray. 


Now blocks to cleave 
This time requires, 
’Gainst Christmas for 
To make good fires. 

December the Fifteenth : 


—Old Saying „ 


In the mellow warmth of the firelight glow 
The silver gems of the mistletoe; 
Laurustinus mingles her pink-white bloom 
Shading the cornice in partial gloom. 

The holly noddeth his stately head, 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


115 


Kindly old friend with his berries red. 

The pendent yew hath her own snug place 
She fills with a diffident, shrinking grace. 

The ivy—queen of the evergreens all— 

Her berries black, droopeth over the wall. 

Shineth the poet’s laurel fair, 

Not least of the evergreens clustering there. 

—Astley H. Baldwin. 

December the Sixteenth: 

0! the holly tree bough, he is stout and strong, 
And he recks not if winter be short or long. 

For boldly he enters where mirth prevails, 

At the Christmas board, at the Christmas tales. 
But the mistletoe creeps like a poor old fellow, 
With blood so cold and cheeks so yellow; 

Yet let him but bide in your festive hall, 

And you’ll find him the jovialest guest of all. 

December the Seventeenth: 

December, fair and holly-crowned, 

With the Christ-child in her arms. 

—Edna Dean Proctor. 

December the Eighteenth: 

This holly and this ivy wreath 
To do Him honor, who’s our king; 

—Robert Herrick , 

December the Nineteenth : 

The time draws near the birth of Christ; 

The moon is hid—the night is still ; 

The Christmas bells from hill to hill 
Answer each other in the mist. 

Each voice four changes on the wind, 

That now dilate, and now decrease, 

Peace and good-will, good-will and peace, 
Peace and good-will to all mankind. 

— Tennyson. 


316 THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 

December the Twentieth: 

Some say, that ever ’gainst that season comes 
Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, 

The bird of dawning singeth all night long; 

And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad; 

The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, 
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm; 

So hallow’d and so gracious is the time. 

— Shakespeare . 

December the Twenty-First : 

When mother-love makes all things bright; 

When joy comes with the morning light; 

When children gather round their tree; 

Thou, Christmas Babe, 

We sing of Thee! 

—Tudor Jenks. 

December the Twenty-Second : 

The earth has grown old with its burden of care, 

But at Christmas it always is young, 

The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, 

And its soul full of music bursts forth on the air, 
When the song of the angels is sung. 

—Phillips Brooks. 

December the Twenty-Third: 

Why do bells for Christmas ring? 

Why do little children sing ? 

Once a lovely, shining star 
Seen by shepherds from afar, 

Gently moved until its light 
Made a manger-cradle bright. 

There a darling Baby lay 
Pillowed soft upon the hay. 

And his mother sang and smiled, 

^This is Christ, the holy child.” 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


117 


So the bells for Christmas ring; 

So the little children sing. 

—Lydia A. C. Ward. 


December the Twenty-Fourth: 

While shepherds watched their flocks hy night, 

All seated on the ground, 

The angel of the Lord came down, 

And glory shone around. 

“Fear not,” said he (for mighty dread 
Had seized their troubled mind) ; 

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring 
To you and all mankind. 

“To you, in David’s town, this day 
Is born of David’s line 
The Saviour who is Christ the Lord; 

And this shall be the sign: 

“The heavenly Babe you there shall find 
To human view display’d, 

All meanly wrapt in swathing bands, 

And in a manger laid.” 

—Nahum Tate. 

[If preferred, the child may sing this hymn.] 


December the Twenty-Fifth: 

God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothing you dismay, 

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day. 
The dawn rose red o ’er Bethlehem, the stars shone through 
the gray, 

When Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas 
day. 


118 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


God rest ye, little children; let nothing you affright, 

For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night; 
Along the hills of Galilee the white flocks sleeping lay, 
When Christ, the child of Nazareth, was born on Christmas 
day. 

God rest ye, all good Christians; upon this blessed morn 
The Lord of all good Christians was of a woman born; 
Now all your sorrows He doth heal, your sins He takes 
away; 

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day, 

—Dinah Maria Mulock. 


December the Twenty-Sixth: 

Once in royal David’s city 
Stood a lowly cattle-shed, 

Where a mother laid her baby 
In a manger for His bed. 

Mary was that mother mild, » 

Jesus Christ that little child. 

He came down to earth from Heaven, 

Who is God and Lord of all, 

And his shelter was a stable, 

And his cradle was a stall. 

With the poor and mean and lowly, 

Lived on earth our Saviour Holy. 

December the Twenty-Seventh : 

0, little town of Bethlehem, 

How still we see thee lie! 

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep 
The silent stars go by; 

Yet, in thy dark streets shineth 
The everlasting Light: 

The hopes and fears of all the years 
Are met in thee to-night. 

—Phillips Brooks. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


119 


December the Twenty-Eighth : 

There’s a song in the air! 

There’s a star in the sky! 

There’s a mother’s deep prayer 
And a baby’s low cry! 

And the star rains its fire while the Beautiful sing, 
For th6 manger of Bethlehem cradles a king. 

—Phillips Brooks. 

December the Twenty-Ninth: 

What can I give Him, 

Poor as I am? 

If I were a shepherd 
I would bring a lamb; 

If I were a wise man, 

I would do my part— 

Yet, what I can I give Him, 

I give my heart. 

—Christina G. Rossetti. 

December the Thirtieth : 

0, Child of Mary’s tender care! 

0, little Child so pure and fair! 

Cradled within the manger hay 
On that divine first Christmas day! 

The hopes of every age and race 
Are centered in thy radiant face; 

—Annie P. Field. 

December the Thirty-First: 

Ring out the old, ring in the new, 

Ring, happy bells, across the snow; 

The year is going, let him go; 

Ring out the false, ring in the true. 

Ring in the valiant man and free, 

The larger heart, the kindlier hand; 

Ring out the darkness of the land, 

Ring in the Christ that is to be. 

— Tennyson. 


120 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


If desired, several songs may be inserted at appropriate 
places in the exercise, such as: “Hush, My Dear, Lie 
Still and Slumber,” by Watts; “Hark, the Herald Angels 
Sing; ” “ Joy to the World; ” “ The Evergreen; ” “ It Came 
Upon the Midnight Clear;” “Hang Up the Baby’s Stock¬ 
ing,” etc. While Christmas-Tide is gathering up her of¬ 
ferings of evergreen, and exits, the pupils sing the last 
stanza of the song: “The Voice of Christmas-Tide.” 


CHRISTMAS PLOTS 

Marie Irish 

FOR THREE GIRLS AND THREE BOYS OF THE UPPER GRADES 

CHARACTERS 
Grandmother Van Cleve 
Miss Emmeline, an old maid 
Dorothy, the pretty granddaughter 
Parkins, the butler 
John Weston, an admirer 
Henry Barlow, another admirer 

COSTUMES 

Grandmother Van Cleve: White hair; glasses; black gown; small 
lace cap for house; black bonnet with veil for street. 

Miss Emmeline: Quite dressy, with various bright colors; cork¬ 
screw curls; fussy, old-style dress; a lot of jewelry. 

Dorothy: Very pretty clothes of modern young lady; stylish hat, 
coat, and furs. 

Parkins: White vest; cut-away coat; very lofty manner. 

Weston and Barlow: In first scenes, business suits; last scene, 
each disguised with a Santa Claus« outfit. 

STAGE ARRANGEMENT 

Eirst' scenes : No setting, or else hung with evergreen, to represent 
out-of-doors. Last scene: A cozy room in the Van Cleve home. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


121 


SCENE I—Dorothy’s Admirer 

Discovered, Grandmother Van Cleve and Dorothy 

Dorothy : The air is very fine this morning, Grandmother. 
It is a good morning for a walk. 

Grandmother*. Yes, except that it is somewhat cold. I do 
not see, Dorothy, why yon are so fond of taking walks. 

Dorothy : Because it is good exercise, Grandmother. If 
you are cold why not go back home and let me walk 
alone? [Aside.] It is terrible to always have a chaperon 
fussing over me. 

Grandmother : No, if you must walk I will go with you. 

Enter Weston at opposite side of stage 

Weston [gazing at Dorothy] : Ah! what a pretty young 
lady. How I wish I might meet her. I wonder if there 
isn’t some way I can get an introduction. 

Grandmother [pointing] : That is a pretty tree, Dorothy. 
What is it? [She drops her handkerchief.] 

Dorothy: Oh, a—a—I don’t know. 

Weston [aside] : She has dropped her handkerchief—now 
perhaps I can become acquainted. [Approaches.] Par¬ 
don me, madam, I believe this is yours. [Hands hand¬ 
kerchief to Grandmother hut gazes at Dorothy.] A fine 
morning, isn’t it? 

Grandmother [taking handkerchief] : Thank you, sir. 
[Aside.] Dear me, he is making eyes at Dorothy. I must 
not allow that. [To Weston.] I was wondering, sir, 
what that beautiful tree over there is. Perhaps you can 
tell me. 

Weston: Why, that is—a—a—er— I cannot tell from so 
far away. [Aside.] Here is a chance for a little visit. 
[To the ladies.] Let us walk over that way where we can 
see it. 

Grandmother: Certainly. [She steps heside Weston and 
they start to walk along. Dorothy drops behind them.] 
I am very much interested in trees, and it is kind in you 
to take this trouble. 

Weston: Not at all. I am delighted. [Aside.] If I can 
get a few words with the charming young lady. 


122 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Dorothy [aside] : Oh, there comes Harry Norton! I be¬ 
lieve I can slip away and give him the letter I have for 
him. [Hurries from stage.] 

Grandmother [to Weston] : Yes, that is a beautiful tree. 
See how gracefully the branches droop. I wonder what 
it is. 

Weston: Perhaps it is—a—er—box elder. 

Grandmother : Why, sir, the box elder is a deciduous tree. 
I think this must be a balsam. [Looks around.] Oh, oh, 
where is Dorothy? [Looks.] Why, there she goes way 
down the street. Excuse me, sir. I must hurry after her. 
[Tries to hurry ; walks as if rheumatic. Exit.] 

Weston: Foiled! Not a word with the fair Dorothy! 
[Stamps foot.] Well, I shall not despair. Faint heart 
never won fair lady—next time I may have better luck. 
[Passes off.] / 

curtain 


SCENE II—Another Admirer 
Discovered, Dorothy and Miss Emmeline 

Dorothy: Oh, Aunt Emmeline, there is a man selling 
Christmas wreaths down here on the street. Let us go 
get some. 

Miss Emmeline: Stop a minute, Dorothy. You have 
walked so fast I am all out of breath. I must find my 
smelling salts. [They stop and Miss Emmeline hunts 
in hand-bag.] 

Enter Barlow at further side of stage 

Barlow [gazing at Dorothy] : Oh, gee! What a pretty 
girl! I wonder who she is. I have seen her a number of 
times. Wish I could get acquainted with her. Say, I 
believe I can work a game with the maiden auntie. 
[Approaches.] 

Miss Emmeline: Oh, here are my smelling salts at last. 
[Smells.] I was almost exhausted. I don't see why you 
will persist in walking so vigorously. 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


123 


Barlow [to Miss Emmeline] : I beg your pardon, Miss, 
but isn’t your name Miss Josephine Bennington? [He 
gazes at Dorothy.] 

Miss Emmeline : Oh, my no! You have made a mistake. 
I never even heard of her. [Smiles at him. Aside.] He 
is real nice-looking. 

Barlow: Oh, pardon me! But you look so much like a 
young lady friend of my mother’s I met last winter. I 
hope you are not offended. [Gazes at Dorothy.] 

Miss Emmeline: Not at all. It is easy to mistake one 
young person for another. [Simpers.] You look lots like 
a man I used to know in Chester. [Aside.] Dear me, he 
seems to be all taken up with Dorothy. I will have to 
stop that. [To Barlow.] Don’t you think that Christ¬ 
mas is a lovely time ? It is so interesting to get presents. 
Last year I got over twenty. [Simpers.] Hiram Jackson 
gave me a lovely album. 

Dorothy [who has been looking off the stage and grad¬ 
ually walking that way] : Oh, if there isn’t Harry Norton 
again. I must see him a minute. [Walks quickly from 
the stage.] 

Miss Emmeline : I have just lots and lots of presents that 
men have given me. I always keep them. It is so inter¬ 
esting to look them over. [She notices Barlow looking 
after Dorothy and turns around.] Why, where has 
Dorothy gone? [Looks.] Where can she have gone? 
Why, she is way down the street. I must hurry after 
her. I’m delighted to have met you. [Smiles and bows 
to Barlow and hurries off.] 

Barlow: Oh, Jove and Jupiter, what luck! Never a 
word with the fair Dorothy. At least I learned her name 
is Dorothy. She is a peach! I must get a chance to 
become acquainted. If that old maid hadn’t been so 
talkative I might have won at least a glance from the 
charming young niece. Well, I shall manage some way 
to know her or my name isn’t Barlow. What fine eyes 
she has, and such a sweet mouth. [Exit.] 
curtain 


124 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


SCENE III—The Admirers’ Plot 

Discovered , Weston 

Weston [pacing back and forth] : Ah, I have seen her 
again and she is more beautiful than ever. She is 
angelic, but my luck is still below zero. This time she 
was with a smiling old maid who wouldn’t let me get 
within speaking distance of lovely Dorothy. I am in 
despair. What shall I do? I have discovered where 
she lives. Now how can I get a chance to visit her? I 
wonder if—if—I have it! I’m going to dress like Santa 
Claus and take her a Christmas present. A fine idea! 
A little bold, but all is fair in love and jvar. [Exit.] 

Enter Barlow 

Barlow [dejectedly] : Only two days till Christmas and 
I feel like hanging myself. Every one seems merry but 
me, and I am a whole funeral. All because I can’t get 
acquainted with the charming Dorothy. I met her again 
yesterday, but she had a fierce old grandmother with 
her who scared me off before I got a good look at the 
fair granddaughter. Woe is me! What shall I do? 
Shall I give up? Never! I shall— [thinks]. I have it! 
Why can’t I disguise myself as Santa Claus and call 
on her Christmas eve with a present? I believe I can 
manage to have a visit with her that way. Of course 
it is a little unusual for Santa Claus to call on young 
ladies, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I will 
try, and in my vocabulary there is no such word as 
Fail! [Exit.] 

CURTAIN 

SCENE IV—The Santas Outwitted 
The Van Cleve home, Christmas eve. 

Discovered , Parkins, the butler. 

Parkins : I just wonder, now, what scheme Miss Dorothy 
has on hand. I believe she is up to some mischief, for 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


125 


this evening she seems so sort of excited. Poor girl, it’s 
little chance she has for a good time. What with her 
grandmother keeping a close watch on her so’s no young 
man will so much as smile at her, and the old maid, 
Miss Emmeline, scaring off all the young fellers that 
would like to say a few words to the perty girl, she don’t 
have much more fun thkn a jail-bird. I’d just like to 
give her a chance to have a little good times like other 
young folks. And if I get a chance to help her any, I 
will—or my name ain’t Parkins. There is the bell. 
[Exit.] 

Re-enter Parkins followed by Weston as Santa Claus. 

Parkins: Yes, sir—that is, Mr. Santa Claus, Miss Doro¬ 
thy is at home, but she isn’t much used to having vis¬ 
itors—tfat is, men. 

Weston: Of course, but on Christmas eve you know 
things—unusual things are apt to occur. [Slips bill 
into Parkins’ hand.] If you could possibly manage.for 
me to see Miss Dorothy a few minutes—you know Santa 
Claus is a privileged person. 

Parkins: Certainly, Santa Claus, certainly. I will do 
my best. You might sit over here, so if anyone else 
happens to come in. [Gives him a chair behind a screen 
at side of the room.] I will find Miss Dorothy. [Aside.] 
This is some feller who is come to see Dorothy or my 
name ain’t Parkins, and I’m going to give her a chance 
if I lose my place. There is the bell again. [Exit.] 
Re-enter Parkins followed by Barlow as Santa Claus. 

Parkins: Yes, sir, I mean Santa Claus, Miss Dorothy is 
home and it may be she can see you, though her folks 
wouldn’t like very well for Santa .Claus to come to see 
her, I’m afraid. [Aside.] Heavings an’ earth! What 
does two of ’em mean? I didn’t know as Santa Claus 
was twins! 

Barlow : I am aware this is unusual, but at Christmas time 
we take a little more liberty, you know. [Slips bill into 
Parkins’ hand.] Now if you can let me see Miss Doro¬ 
thy a few minutes it will be a great favor. 

Parkins: I’ll do my best, Santa Claus. You better sit 


126 


TriE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


here out of sight in case anybody should happen in. 
[Has Barlow sit on footstool at other side of room from 
Weston, where he is hidden behind a tall easy chair.] 
I’ll call Miss Dorothy. [Aside.] Indeed, I’ll sure lose 
my place for such doings, but if mebbe Miss Dorothy has 
got a chance to have a good time it’s not Parkins will 
hinder ’er, though I don’f much fancy twin Santa 
Clauses. [Exit.] 

Enter Grandmother and Miss Emmeline. 

Miss Emmeline: Oh,. I do think Christmas is so lovely 
and the presents are so interesting. I wonder if Horace 
Barnes will give me a gift this year. [Simpers.] 

Grandmother: Where is Dorothy? 

Miss Emmeline : She will be down soon, I think. I hope 
I’ll get a new pearl brooch. [Goes over to screen and 
discovers Weston.] Oh, oh, oh, if here isn’t Santa 
Claus! Oh, you dear thing! Were you hiding until 
you could fill our stockings? Oh, grandmother, just 
see Santa Claus! 

Grandmother: Santa Claus! Hiding here in our house? 
What does this mean? [She comes down to front on 
opposite side and discovers Barlow.] And what is this? 

Miss Emmeline [running over to Barlow] : Oh, another 
one! Isn’t he cunning? Isn’t this, just delightful—two 
Santa Clauses. Are they brothers? Oh, what have you 
brought me? 

Grandmother : Stop your foolishness, Emmeline. 

[Sternly.] You two men come out here where I can 
see you! [They come out to center.] 

Weston [aside] : Foiled again, curse the day! [Look¬ 
ing at Barlow.] Who can this crazy freak be? 

Barlow [aside] : Dynamite my luck! I wish I was in 
Halifax. [Looking at Westc>n.] Who can this gink 
be, rigged up as Santa Claus? 

Grandmother [sternly] : What are you here for? Do 
you want to rob the house? Speak! 

Weston: Indeed, no, madam. I came merely as a—a— 
bit of a Christmas joke to—tpr- 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 127 

Grandmother: Oh, you did! [To Barlow.] And what 
did you come for? 

Barlow: I assure, madam, just to—to — Miss Dorothy— 
Grandmother: Oh, you came to see Dorothy! The idea! 

[To Weston.] Are you here to see Dorothy, too? 
Weston : Well I—that is—I—yes. 

- Miss Emmeline : The idea of coming to see Dorothy! 

Enter Dorothy wearing coat and hat. 
Grandmother [ severely ] : Where have you been? [Wes¬ 
ton and Barlow move hack into background.] 
Dorothy : Oh, Grandmother, I—I have been out walking 
with Harry Norton and he—he gave me a—a—ring for 
a Christmas present and — 

Weston: A ring! The boob! [Exit.] [Exit. 

Barlow : Here’s my finish! No wedding bells for me! 
Dorothy : I am so happy! [Grandmother and Miss Em¬ 
meline glare at her in anger.] 
curtain 

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN MANY LANDS 

Harriette Wilbur 

A window-frame, or an opening to resemble one, is placed in the 
center of a curtain. Each of the speakers, dressed in the national 
cap and gown of the nation she represents, appears at the window in 
turn and speaks her few lines. If desired, a herald outside the win¬ 
dow may announce each in turn, though this is not necessary. 

In Denmark 

In Denmark we have many interesting Christmas customs, 
but there is one that belongs almost wholly to us, and that 
is “Blowing in the Yule.” At sunrise, while yet the towns¬ 
people are at breakfast, the town band climbs the many 
steep ladders to the top of the church-tower and plays four 
old hymns, one to each corner of the compass, so that no 
one is forgotten. They always begin with Luther’s 
“Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and those sitting in their 
homes always join in with the song as soon as they hear 
the first note. As the last strains of the fourth hymn die 
away, the big church-bells commence to boom out with their 
deep voices, and Yule is fairly under way. 


128 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


In Sweden 

We always prepare for the Christmas festival by a thor¬ 
ough housecleaning, in which everything indoors and out is 
made spotless. At all times in the year we believe that 
“cleanliness is next to godliness” and so, in honor of the 
day, we prepare to celebrate it in a godly house. Nor do we 
forget the birds of the air, and a sheaf of wheat is placed on 
a pole in front of each house to provide them with food. 
The horses, cows, cats and dogs are not forgotten, but are 
given an extra portion of the best for their supper, because, 
when the Christ-Child was born, his cradle was m a manger 
among the cattle. 

In Norway 

We have a pretty legend that on every Christmas eve the 
little Christ-Child wanders all over the world bearing on 
His shoulders a bundle of evergreens. Through city streets 
and country lanes, up and down hill, to proudest castle 
and lowliest hovel, through cold and storm and sleet and 
ice, this holy Child travels, to be welcomed or rejected at 
the doors where He pleads for help. Those who would 
invite Him and long for his coming set a lighted candle in 
the window to guide Him on his way hither. They also be¬ 
lieve that He comes to them in the guise of any alms- 
craving, wandering person who knocks humbly at their 
doors for sustenance, thus testing their goodness. So we 
show hospitality to all who come to our doors, believing 
that such aid is done as unto the Christ-Child. 

In France 

On December 4th, which is the Feast of St. Barbara, our 
women plant St. Barbara’s grain. We fill two, sometimes 
three, plates with wheat or lentils, set them afloat in water, 
and place them in the warm ashes of the fireplace, or on a 
sunny window ledge to sprout. This is done in order to 
foretell the harvest of the coming year, for, as St. Barbara’s 
gram grows well or ill, so will the harvest of the coming 
year be good or bad. These plates of green grain are r 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


129 


placed on the table when the Great Supper is served on 
Christmas eve, the growing sprouts being a symbol of the 
harvest of the new year that is soon beginning. This feast 
is for the whole family, including the house servants, and 
farm-laborers, and any passing strangers or beggars who 
may be found in the country round. So it requires a long 
table, indeed, to accommodate the large number, often as 
many as forty. With the green grain of Saint Barbara is 
to be seen, in the center of the table, the Christmas loaf, 
its browned crust slashed with a cross, on which is a bunch 
of holly. This loaf is cut by the head of the house into as 
many portions as there are persons present, with one 
double-portion over to be given to some poor one in charity 
—called “the portion of the good God.” Fish, snails, 
thistle stalks blanched like celery and eaten with garlic 
sauce, seven different kinds of sweets, including candied 
fruits, candies and cakes, fruit and wine furnish the dishes 
for this feast; these are the stated dishes and cannot be 
changed, though the table by no means is empty, because 
the feast is somewhat in the nature of a fast. Some mem¬ 
ber of the family usually sees to it that the cat receives a 
large supply of food while the feast is going on, for it is 
well known that should the cat meow on Christmas eve, and 
especially while the supper is in progress, very dreadful 
things surely will happen to the family during the ensuing 
year. It is the rule of these family gatherings that all 
quarrels, which have sprung up in the year, shall be for¬ 
given and forgotten before the family sit down. While 
the feast is in progress, the elder people usually tell stories 
of the doings of those who, in the past, have brought honor 
upon the family name; after the supper is over, noels are 
sung. 

In Ireland 

Christmas eve is the only time in the year when mass is 
ever said at night; it is observed in Roman Catholic coun¬ 
tries at midnight because it is commonly believed that 
Christ was born at about that hour. It is one of the most 
touchingly beautiful church services of the whole year, par- 


130 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


ticularly as it is performed amid the hills in certain dis¬ 
tricts of Ireland. About eleven o'clock each family pre¬ 
pares for the walk to the village church, young and old 
alike, all wrapped warmly and following the father, who 
leads the way with a lantern or torch. Soon little parties 
are seen coming from all directions, the lights flashing 
and flaming through the dark night. Usually someone in 
the party commences a hymn or carol, and as the different 
groups come nearer together they unite 'in a full chorus 
that echoes through the little village streets in one clear, 
sweet song. In the cities, the midnight mass is preceded 
by a period of bell-ringing from the different churches and 
cathedrals,—clang, clang, hammer! ding, dong, bell! bell, 
ding, dong! hammer, clang, clash!—as the bells announce 
the Nativity of Christ. 

In Spain 

In our land the Bethlehem manger is a necessary feature 
of the Christmas festival, both in churches and in homes. 
In the farm-houses and in the homes of the middle-class 
and the palaces of the rich the manger is to be seen, very 
simple or very elaborate, according to the worldly wealth 
of the family. On a table set in a corner is represented 
a rocky hillside, dusted with flour to. look like snow—rising 
in terraces tufted with njoss, grass, and little trees, and 
broken by paths and winding roads. At its base, embow¬ 
ered in holly or laurel, is a wooden or pasteboard repre¬ 
sentation of the inn; and beside the inn is the stable: an 
open shed in which are grouped little figures representing 
the several personages of the Nativity. In the center is 
the Christ-Child, either in a cradle or lying on a truss of 
straw; seated beside Him is the Virgin; Saint Joseph stands 
near, holding in his hand the mystic lily; with their heads 
bent down over the Child are the ox and the mule—for 
those good animals helped with their breath through that 
cold night to keep him warm. In the foreground are the 
adoring shepherds Angels, pendent from the ceiling, float 
\v the air abc^e the Higher is the *Vorr) wbmb 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 131 

a ray (a golden thread) descends to the Christ-Child’s 
hand. Over all, in a glory of clouds, hangs the figure of 
Jehovah, attended by a white dove. The making of the 
manger is especially the children’s part of the season’s 
festival, and a few days before Christmas they commence 
to gather their material: mosses, lichens, laurel and holly 
for the greens, and little clay figures for the personages. 

In Germany 

No German household is without its Christmas tree, and it 
is from the Germans that other countries have learned to 
use it. In some of the smaller villages, the presents made 
by the parents are sent to some one person, who, in high 
buskins, a white robe, a mask, and an enormous flax wig, 
goes from house to house, bearing hampers and bags of 
gifts. This is Knecht Rupert. He is received with great 
solemnity, inquires into the characters of the children, and 
then proceeds to deliver toys to the deserving, and a rod 
from a bunch which he carries, to the naughty. 

In Holland 

Christmas day is devoted by the Hollanders to church-rites 
and pleasant family visiting. The evening of December 
5th is known as St. Nicholas Eve, and this is the real pleas¬ 
ure time of the children. On this evening the very spirit 
of fun reigns supreme. In the midst of it a knock is 
heard, and St. Nicholas enters. You may be sure that the 
children are speechless with surprise and joy—one can hear 
a pin drop. St. Nicholas speaks kind words of greeting, 
mentioning each person present by name. He tells the 
children his opinion of their actions for the past year, not 
neglecting to chide those who have pulled the cat’s tail 
or annoyed the school-mistress. He then wishes them all a 
Happy New Year, scatters a great shower of candies on a 
linen sheet spread out by the door. The children tumble 
over each other in their effort to secure sugar-plums, and 
in the excitement St. Nicholas escapes. Then each child, 
removing a wooden shoe that has been previously well 
scoured, lays it on the window-sill and fills it with oats and 
hay, or carrots, for the good Saint’s horse. In the morning 


132 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


the oats, hay and carrots are all gone, and the shoes are 
filled with gifts and candy. 

In Russia 

In Russia we have the story of Babonsca. When the three 
wise men, seeing the star, started in search of the Christ- 
Child, they stopped at Dame Babousca’s hut and asked 
her the way to Bethlehem. She refused to tell them, but, 
after they had gone, she was sorry, and, filling a basket 
with toys, said to herself: “I will find the men and to¬ 
gether we will search for the Child and lay these gifts at 
His feet. ,, So she goes about every Christmas eve, the 
same as your Santa Claus and the German Knecht Rupert, 
with her pack of presents, and when the children find their 
toys on Christmas morning they cry outOld Babousca 
has passed *this way. ’ ’ 

In Italy 

Carol-singing; the making of the Christmas manger; the 
performance of pantomimes and miracle plays, as well as 
several other customs that have become common in other 
countries, were originally celebrated in Italy. But we 
have one custom that has not become common, and that is 
“the urn of fate .” This is a deep bowl filled with small 
gifts, with an occasional dummy package. Children and 
grown people, alike, take turns drawing from the urn. 
This causes much fun and merriment, particularly when a 
blank is drawn or a present that is a decided misfit, but in 
the end each one is satisfied with what best suits him. This 
urn is to us Italian children what the Christmas tree is to 
the young people of other countries. 

* In Wales 

The custom of carol-singing is a commemoration of the 
song of the angels. This custom was, at one time, very 
popular in different countries of Europe, but of late it has 
been almost lost. But singing is as natural to us Welsh 
people as to the birds that fill our woodlands, and we have 


DIALOGUES, EXERCISES, PLAYS 


133 


dozens of carols that are popular at Christmas time. A 
party of singers will visit a home and sing before the closed 
door. A singer within responds in verses supposed to be 
thought out on the spot. The singers outside continue to 
sing until the singer inside is unable to think of further 
verses. Then the door is unbarred, the party of singers 
enter, and are entertained with Christmas dainties. 

In Scotland 

The Italian pantomime, or dumb show, became changed 
in England to mumming, and though the practice has 
about died out in most countries, it is still observed in some 
parts of Scotland. Scott says, in Marmion: 

Then came the merry maskers in, 

And carols roared with blithesome din. 

If unmelodious was the song, 

It was a hearty note and strong; 

White shirts supplied the masquerade, 

And smutted cheeks the visors made. 

But 0 ! what maskers richly dight, 

Can boast of bosoms half so light! 

And he says that, when a boy, he often took part in these 
plays himself. There is, sometimes, a Father Christmas, a 
dragon, drummers, buglers and bagpipers, clowns, and a 
hobby-horse, and they perform a kind of play based on 
the Legend of Saint George and the Dragon. Sometimes 
these “Guisarts,” or guisers, merely perform a “Hobby¬ 
horse dance/ ’ One person carries the image of a horse 
made of thin boards, and in his hand a bow and arrow. 
The arrow, passing through a hole in the bow, makes a 
snapping noise when drawn to and fro, thus keeping time 
to the music. With the hobby-horse dances six others, 
carrying on their shoulders deer heads; they dance various 
country dances. With the hobby-horse there is carried a 
box, into which the onlookers put small coins, and this 
money goes to purchase gifts and food for the poor. In 
making their presence known, these mummers call out in a 
sing-song manner: 


134 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


‘ 1 Hogmanay, 

Trollolay, 

Gie me o’ your white bread, 

Ill kae nane o' your grey. 7 ’ 

They sometimes go about on New Year’s Day also, “hog¬ 
manay” being a form of an old French word meaning 
“new year’s gift.” Sometimes children go about mum¬ 
ming and dancing, and receiving the donations of money 
and cakes, which is later distributed to the poor of the 
district. 

In England 

We sing carols, play games, eat our puddings and mince 
pies, but one of our oldest customs is: bringing in the Yule 
Log. This is a massive piece of wood; frequently the 
rugged and grotesquely marked root of an oak. It is drawn 
in triumph from its resting-place amid shouts and laugh¬ 
ter, every wayfarer doffing his hat as it passes. It must be 
kindled with a charred brand of the previous year’s log. 
It is an emblem of the true light that dawned on the world 
at the birth of Christ. As an accompaniment to the Yule- 
Log there is a candle of monstrous size, called the Yule- 
candle, and this sheds its light on the festivities during the 
evening. 

In America 

The Christmas customs in America have been mostly 
transplanted from Europe: our Christmas tree from Ger¬ 
many; our Santa Claus from Holland; our Christmas- 
stockings from Belgium or France; “Merry Christmas” 
greetings from England; also our Christmas cards, plum- 
puddings, and mince-pies. There are charitable organiza¬ 
tions to look after the needy, while Uncle Sam’s post-car¬ 
riers undertake to deliver the many packages that are sent 
to the many absent friends and relatives. With the many 
other plants that have long been recognized as Christmas 
decorations we have included one native genus, the poin- 
settia. 


CHRISTMAS DOLLS 

Marie Irish 

FOR SIX BOYS AND SIX GIRLS OF THE PRIMARY GRADES 
COSTUMES 

Each child is dressed to represent a doll, each having cheeks colored 
red. Of the girls one dresses as a Japanese; one as a negro mammy; 
one as a baby with a long white dress and a close-fitting, white 
bonnet; one as an Indian girl; one as a lady with a fancy colored 
dress and trimmed hat, while the other makes up as a rag doll. One 
boy dresses as a negro; one as an Indian brave; one as a soldier; 
another as a sailor; one as a worsted doll with leggings, sweater, 
stocking cap; and the other as an Esquimo. They all march with 
stiff, jerky steps and move the arms without bending the elbows. 

Boys enter in single file at right corner of back of stage 
and girls at left corner; boys cross over to left corner in 
rear while girls pass to right corner; files pass down sides 
to front of stage and boys cross over from left corner of 
front to right side, while girls pass across to left side. As 
each couple meet at center of front they bow to each other 
in stately manner. Boys pass up right side and girls up 
left; at corners of back, turn and come down to center of 
front in diagonal lines. As the couples meet at center of 
front they bow again as before. Cross lines, boys going up 
left side and girls up right; meet at center of back and 
form couples. Come down the center to front in couples. 
First couple turns to right; second to left; third to right, 
etc. Pass up sides to back where each boy steps ahead of 
his partner and they form single files. March as shown 
in diagram. 


135 







136 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 



As files come back to corners of back they form two lines 
across the rear of stage and all spe v ak the following, with 
motions: 

Christmas dolls are we (1), are we, 

Fresh from Santa’s factory; 

(2) We shall all be given away. 

On Christmas day; on Christmas day. 

Some nice child will laugh with glee, (3) 

When in her stocking she finds me; (4) 

She will hug me just this way, (5) 

When she gets me Christmas day. 

We can smile so very sweet; (3) 

Make a bow with style replete; (1) 

We can throw you all a kiss, ‘(6) 

And dance a little, just like this. (7) 

(1. Boys give a salute by touching right hand to right 
temple, then carrying hand out straight from head and 
dropping to side; girls drop a curtsey. 2. Both hands 
extended out to front. 3. Smile broadly. 4. Right hand 
over heart. 5. Bring arms together, as if hugging some 
one. 6. Throw kiss to audience. 7. Dance without bend¬ 
ing knees.) 

Those on back row now pass down right side of stage, 
others down left side, and on reaching corners of front 
they pass from there in diagonal lines to center of back, 
where they form couples and pass to the center of stage 



DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


137 


in couples. Here each left-hand member turns to left, 
right-hand members turn to right, pass in single files to 
center of sides, and then in diagonal lines to center of 
front. The two who meet at center of front stand side by 
side; the others stand so as to form a V, and they all sing. 

Tune: billy boy 

Oh, won’t you be glad, little girl, little girl; 

Oh, won’t you be glad, Christmas morning? 

If you find a doll like me, just as sweet as sweet can be, 
Peeping out of your stocking, Christmas morning? 

Oh, I’m very good, little girl, little girl, 

For I think bad dollies are shocking: 

I’m as quiet as a mouse, never litter up the house; 
You’ll be glad when you find me in your stocking. 

All the boys pass to right, girls to left, march up sides 
f stage, meet at center of back, form couples, come down 
<,0 front, then pass off. 

THE CHRISTMAS TREE 

AN ACROSTIC FOR TEN TINY TOTS 

Each child should carry a large letter, except the last child, who has 
a card with T-R-E-E on it. The children should keep the letters out 
of view until ready to speak the line or lines each represents. 

C for Candles and pop-Corn; 

H for Holly, red as morn. 

R for Ribbons trailing bright; 

I for Ice Crystals, silver white. 

S for Stars and Stockings hung primly; 

T for Toys, all tied up trimly. 

M—a Merry Christmas, all; 

A for Apples saved from fall. 

S for Santa Claus who comes 
Laden down with sugar plums. 

T-R-E-E, that’s the Tree, 

Full of toys for you and me. 


m 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


A CHRISTMAS LULLABY 

A MOTION SONG FOR ANY NUMBER OF LITTLE GIRLS 

The children are seated in little rocking-chairs, each hold¬ 
ing a doll dressed in a long white gown. They rock slowly 
in time to the music. 

[1] At first “hush-a-by” they raise forefinger of right 
hand as if to insure silence. 

[2] Kiss dolls. 

[3] Very softly. 

[4] Lay dolls in small cradles, standing near. 

[5] At “hush” raise forefinger of the right hand warn- 
ingly. 

[6] Very softly. 

[7] Rock cradles slowly in time to music, children 
kneeling on the floor. 

[8} Turn toward audience. 

[9] Very softly. 

The words are adapted to the music of the familiar hymn 

(( SILENT NIGHT.” 

(1) Hush-a-by, hush-a-by 
Christmas stars are in the sky; 

Sweet the bells of Christmas Eve,—- 

(2) Babies each a kiss receive,— 

Hush-a-by, good-night, 

(3) Hush-a-by, good night. 

Lull-a-by, lull-a-by, 

(4) Babies in their cradles lie; 

Everyone in white is gowned, 

(5) Hush, make not a single sound! 

Lull-a-by, good-night, 

(6) Lull-a-by, good-night. 


DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


139 


Rock-a-by, rock-a-by, 

(7) Christmas tide draweth nigh; 
Quiet now the tiny feet, 

Babies sleep so still and sweet,— 

(8) Sweetest dreams, good-night, 

(9) Sweetest dreams, good-night! 


SING A SONG OF CHRISTMAS 

Marie Irish 

MOTION SONG FOR A NUMBER OF CHILDREN BLACKED AND 
DRESSED AS NEGROES 

Tune: Maryland! my Maryland! 

Dar’s gwine ter be a merry time, 

Numbers 1, 3, 5, etc., face Numbers 2, 4, 6 and shake right 
hands at them. 

Sing a song of Christmas day; 

All face front. 

Jes’ oughter hear de glad bells chime, 

Numbers 2, 4, 6, etc., face others and shake hands at them. 

Sing a song of Christmas day. 

All face front. 

Bar won’t be any work ter do; 

All stand with hands on hips. 

Bar’ll be a happy time fer YOU; 

All point to audience. 

Bar’ll be some fun fer dis coon, too; 

Right hand over heart; smile broadly. 

Sing a song of Christmas day. 

Bar’s gwine ter be a great big tree; 

Right hand raised, pointing upward. 

Sing a song of Christmas day; 

Wid lots of presents, massy me! 

Both hands extended to the front. 

Sing a song of Christmas day. 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


14 Q 


Dar’ll be some candles, red and blue, 

An’ dar will be some gifts fer you; 

Right hand pointing to audience. 

Dar’ll be some gifts fer dis coon, too; 

Strike attitude, right hand over heart; smile broadly. 

Sing a song of Christmas day. 

Dar is a fat man you all know; 

Hands touching, out in front of body, outlining a fat 
person. 

Sing a song of Christmas day; 

He lives up North where white bears grow; 

Clasp hands in fear and look anxiously from side to side. 
Sing a song of Christmas day . 

He has jes’ heaps and heaps of toys; 

Both hands extended upward and to the front. 

He brings ’em to good girls and boys; 

Strike attitude; right hand over heart. 

A-bein’ good I jes’ enjoys; 

Arms folded; eyes rolled upward; very sober face. 

Sing a song of Christmas day. 

What I wants mos’ fer Christmas, oh! 

Right palm on cheek; elbow in left palm; head inclined to 
the right. 

Wants de mos’ fer Christmas, oh! 

A watermillion, big as SO; 

Fingers touching, out in front of body, outlining a large 
melon. 

Yum, yum, yum; a melon, oh! 

Hands up by mouth, as if holding a large piece of melon. 

Dar won’t be any work ter do; 

Right hand across left arm, as if playing a fiddle. 

Dar’ll be a happy time fer YOU; 

Right hand pointing to audience. 

Dar’ll be some fun fer dis coon, too; 

All join hands and dance forward, gayly. 

Sing a song of Christmas day. 

Still holding hands, dance backward, then bow low. 


DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


141 


THE CHRISTMAS TOYS ON PARADE 

Harriette Wilbur 

FOR TEN BOYS AND TEN GIRLS OF THE PRIMARY GRADES 
CHARACTERS 

Boys 
2 Balls 
2 Tin Soldiers 
2 Jumping-Jacks 
2 Jack-in-the-Boxes 
2 Teddy-Bears 

COSTUMES 

Balls: Long, tight, black hose reaching to the knees; knee-length 
clown suits of black cambric lining, made very full so as to stand 
out in globular effect, and trimmed on body and sleeves with numerous 
balls of orange tissue-paper. The caps are immense, globular turbans 
of black’ each with a tissue-ball on the top. They carry short wands 
with big balloons on the ends, and orange streamers. 

Tin Soldiers: Long, blue trousers strapped down the outer seams 
with white; tight red coats, trimmed with gold and white; white 
gloves; little, round caps; pasteboard swords covered with silver- 
paper or paint. 

Jumping-Jacks : Very tight harlequin suits, one whole side being 
green and the other yellow, with scalloped points at neck, sleeves 
and ankles. The head covering is a flappy cap, much like a Brownie 
hood, one side being green and the other yellow. They carry canes 
with ribbons of green and yellow. 

Jack-in the-Boxes : Black hose; purple waists; big white ruffs, 
and purple liberty caps. Each one has an immense, gray pasteboard 
(milliner’s) box, large enough to reach from armpits to knees, and 
held in place by straps over the shoulders. 

Teddy-Bears : Footed pajamas of gray cotton-flannel; hoods of 
the same, fitted closely about the face, and with little wired ears. 
French Dolls: Pale blue muslin dresses, made long-waisted and 
short-skirted; pink sashes and hair ribbons^ white hose and slippers. 
They carry white parasols with pink bows. 

Japanese Dolls: Kimonos of bright red, and carry fans. 

Baby Dolls : Long night-gowns of white, and night-caps, and carry 
unlighted candles. 

Books: White dresses; mortar-board caps of black, and spectacles. 
Each one has, at front and back, a large rectangle of black cambric, 
fastened at the shoulders and tacked to the skirt. The front square 


Girls 

2 French Dolls 
2 Japanese Dolls 
2 Baby Dolls 
2 Books 

2 Waltzing-Tops 


142 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOR 


of one book bears the words, in large white letters, “ Mother Goose 
Rhymes the other one is: “Alice in Wonderland.” 
Waltzing-Tops: Pink tarlatan dresses made with very short full 
skirts, trimmed with numerous ruffles of the goods, much like a ballet 
costume; pink hose and slippers. 

(If fewer characters are desired, some of these may be omitted.) 
Music: A military march. 

The two Tin Soldiers enter at rear, march briskly up the 
front; salute the audience with swords; about face and 
march to rear, down sides, across front, and halt at either 
side at rear, facing each other. 

Pianist plays a waltz—the one from The Pink Lady 
would be a good one. The two French Dolls, with opened 
parasols, enter with the following steps: Advance on right 
foot; bring left foot beside right, at the same time rising 
on toes; settle down on heels; one measure. On next meas¬ 
ure, step forward on left foot; bring right beside left and 
rise on toes; then settle down on heels. Repeat these steps 
to front; bow archly to audience; return to rear, halting 
in place beside the Tin Soldiers. 

Pianist plays a ragtime. The two Balls enter, turning 
somersaults or cartwheels; advance so to front; bow to 
audience, and Somersault to positions beside the French 
Dolls. 

Pianist plays a simple arrangement of ‘‘Three Little 
Maids from School,” from The Mikado; the two Japanese 
Dolls enter with little running steps; drop down on their 
knees and bow to the floor in salutation to the audience; 
then run back into place beside the two Balls. 

Pianist plays a ragtime and the Jumping Jacks hop in 
with high leaps, keeping time to the music. They hop 
to front; halt; jump up and down four times; bow four 
times to left and to right; jump up and down four times; 
then hop into position beside the two Japanese Dolls. 

Pianist plays a lullaby and the two* Baby Dolls enter, 
rubbing their eyes. They walk very slowly to the front; 
yawn two or three times; smile sleepily at audience; yawn 
again, and very slowly walk into position beside the Jump¬ 
ing Jacks 


DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


143 


Pianist plays a slow march and the two Jack-in-the Boxes 
come in, squatting as low as possible, with boxes raised so 
as to cover their heads. They advance to front; suddenly 
leap up, at the same time letting boxes drop into position 
about bodies, so as to show heads; smile and bow to 
audience; squat on heels again; raise boxes to cover heads, 
and creep into position beside the two Baby Dolls, where¬ 
upon they rise to full height and lower boxes. 

Pianist plays some soft, simple melody and the two 
Books enter with slow minuet steps; bow solemnly to 
audience, and take position beside the two Jack-in-the- 
Boxes. 

Pianist plays a bear-dance and the two Teddy-Bears 
come loping in; circle about center of stage; bow to audi¬ 
ence, and lope into position beside the Books. 

Pianist plays a quick waltz and the two Waltzing-Tops 
come whirling in; circle swiftly about in center; wave 
hands to audience and bow, and whirl into position at 
extreme front ends of lines. 

When all have thus entered, they should be arranged in 
two lines, one on each side of the stage, thus: 


T T (TIN SOLDIER,) 

F F (FRENCH DOLL) 

O O (BALL) 

D D (JAP DOLL) 

J J (JUMPING-JACK) 

B B (BABY DOLL) 

Z Z (JACKTN'BOX) 

K K (BOOK) 

R R (TEDDY BEAR) 

W W (WALTZING-TOP) 


DIAGRAM NO. 1 


(In further diagrams, the different children will be 
represented by the letters as in Diagram No. 1. The two 
T’s are the leaders of their lines, unless otherwise 
specified.) 



144 


THE BiSST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Pianist plays a march. 

1. Leaders take their lines np the center to front; 
across front, down sides, across rear. Repeat as desired 
and halt, as in Diagram No. 1, making the lines parallel 
instead of oblique. 

2. Lines march toward each other to center of stage; 
bow to vis-a-vis; about face, and return to position at side. 
Repeat as desired. 

3. Lines march toward each other to center, each child 
passing about its double, back to back; return to position 
with backward steps. Repeat. 

4. Lines march forward; pasg* each other to opposite 
side of stage; about face, and return to original positions. 
Repeat. 

5. Lines advance to center; clasp double’s hand and 
turn about; then return to original position. Repeat. 

6. Using W as a pivot, the leader of line at the left 
of stage swings line into position across front of stage, 
while the leader of the right-side line marches into position 
along rear, as in Diagram No. 2. 



7. Lines face each other and repeat exercises 2-5. 

8. Leader of line across front takes line down right 
side, while leader of line at rear marches up left side. 
Leaders take lines about outside of stage until complete 
circuit is made. 




DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 145 

9. Leaders march diagonally across stage, lines passing 
to left of each other, as in Diagram No. 3. 



Then leaders take lines along sides, and diagonally across 
from left front and rear right. Repeat as desired, halting 
in position as in Diagram No. 2. 

10. Leaders march to meet each other, meeting at cen¬ 
ter as in Diagram No. 4. 



Each leader then turns to his right; takes lines toward 
sides of stage; then up front, leaders meeting at center 
front. Then both lines march down center to rear; sep- 






146 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


arate and march about stage in two circles, as in Diagram 
No. 5. 



March in the two circles as desired. 

11. Meeting at center, the two leaders march to rear; 
then side by side to the right side of stage and up toward 
front, followed by their lines in groups of twos, as in Dia¬ 
gram No. 6. 



March about stage in large circle, by twos. 

12. Partners separate, and thus form two concentric 
circles, as in Diagram No. 7. 






DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


147 



T remains the leader of outer circle, while W becomes the 
leader of the inner; the two circles thus march about in 
opposite directions. 

13. When T’s reach position as in Diagram No. 1 they 
halt; the others fall into line as ^hey are able. 

Exit : Pianist plays the same as in the entrance, for the 
different toys, and they leave the stage in groups of twos, 
in the same manner and order as they entered. 


“MERRY CHRISTMAS” 

Harriette Wilbur 

FOR FOURTEEN CHILDREN OF THE PRIMARY GRADES 
COSTUMES 

" Each child carries a large shield of white pasteboard having a cloth 
handle pasted firmly on the back at the center and a large red letter 
of paper or cloth pasted on the front. Tiny bells fastened at intervals 
about the edge of each shield will furnish a pleasing tinkle. 

The first child to enter carries the M; he advances to the front and 
recites the first line of the following acrostic, and then walks over 
to a position at the rear left of the stage. The second child then 
enters, carrying E, advances to the front and recites the second line 
of the acrostic, and takes position at the left side of the M. Each 
of the fourteen thus enter in turn. 




148 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Music: An appropriate march. 

Merry Christmas 

M for the Music, merry and clear; 

E for the Eve, the crown of the year; 

R for the Romping of bright girls and boys; 

R for the Reindeer that bring them the toys; 

Y for the Yule-log, softly aglow. 

C for the Cold of the sky and the snow; 

H for the Hearth where they hang up the hose; 

R for the Reel which the old folks propose; 

I for the Icicles seen through the pane; 

S for the Sleigh-bells, with tinkling refrain; 

T for the Tree with gifts all abloom; 

M for the Mistletoe hung in the room; 

A for the Anthems we all love to hear; 

S for Saint Nicholas,—joy of the year! 

—Anonymous 

When all the children have entered, they are standing 
along the rear forming the words: MERRY CHRISTMAS. 
Pianist plays, while they drill as follows: 

1. Shields forward in front, back to chest. Repeat. 

2. Shields forward at left and left foot one step ad¬ 
vanced ; shields back to chest and foot to position. Repeat. 

3. Repeat 2 at right. 

4. Shields up before face; back to chest. Repeat. 

5. Shields down to floor; back to chest. Repeat. 

6. Shields at arm’s length to the left; back to chest. 

7. Shields at arm’s length to the right; back to chest. 

8. Alternate 6 and 7. 

9. Shields forward; then above head; then to floor; then 
on chest. Repeat. 

10. Bend body forward, at the same time thrusting 
shield out in front; then stand erect and bring shield to 
chest. Repeat. 


DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


149 


11. Bend forward, at the same time raising shield over¬ 
head; then stand erect and lower shield to chest. Repeat 
this. 

12. Odd-numbered children repeat 1, while even-num¬ 
bered children repeat 4. 

13. Odd-numbered children repeat 4, while even-num¬ 
bered children repeat 1. 

14. Odd-numbered children repeat 6, while even-num¬ 
bered children repeat 7. 

15. Odd-numbered children repeat 7, while others re¬ 
peat 6. 

16. Odd-numbered children repeat 4, while others re¬ 
peat 5. 

17. Odd-numbered children repeat 4, while others re¬ 
peat 5. 

18. Numbers 1 and 6—those carrying the first M and 
the C—hold shields on right shoulder. Others place theirs 
a little lower down, until M, A, and S kneel, the last one 
placing her shield on the floor. They thus form the 
following tableau: 


MERRY 

CHRISTMAS 


19. Each child holds her shield at the left hip. M leads 
the line toward the rear and then in a circle about the stage, 
and as they circle about they will make a revolving greet¬ 
ing. 

20. M stops m position at the center in rear of the 
stage, and holds her shield on right shoulder. E stops in 
front of her and holds her shield just below that of M. 
The others fall into position and form the tableau as given 
on the next page. 


150 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


21 . 
22 . 
leau: 


M C 

E H 

R R 

R I 

Y S 

T 
M 
A 
S 

Repeat 19. 

Halt in position, front row kneeling, for this tat 

MERRY 

CHRISTMAS 


23. Repeat 19. 

24. Form this tableau, each holding his shield a trifle 
lower than the preceding one: 

MERRY 

% CHRISTMAS 

25. Repeat 19. 

26. Halt in position to form: 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 
Finale: Sing the following song, then repeat 19 and exit. 
Merry Christmas 



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152 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


THE DANCE OF THE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS 

Harriette Wilbur 

FOR EIGHT GIRLS, OR FOUR GIRLS AND FOUR BOYS OF THE 
INTERMEDIATE GRADES 
COSTUMES 

The girls wear long night-gowns of white, on the front and back of 
which is a great, red cambric stocking, reaching from the shoulders 
to the knees. Nightcaps on heads. The boys wear white pajamas, 
with black cambric stockings at back and front, and little round 
white caps on their heads. 

Music: The pianist plays the accompanying waltz over 
and over while the children execute the figures following. 
Each alternate repetition is played an octave higher than 
it is written. 



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DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


153 


1. Pianist commences to play, and the children enter 
by twos—a boy and a girl—hand in hand. They advance 
thus: On the first count they place left foot out at left 
side; on second count place left foot ahead; on third count 
place right foot beside left. They gradually take posi¬ 
tions as in formation for a quadrille, as shown in diagram. 
(In the diagram, X is the girl and 0 represents the boy.) 

X 0 


O X 

M o 


0 X 

If the children are not in position at the end of the sixteen 
measures the pianist can repeat the music (but not an 
octave higher). The two couples who must about face 
will be able to do so and keep the step after a little drill. 

2. Pianist plays the waltz an octave higher than writ¬ 
ten. The children bow to each other, and then dance the 
right-and-left figure twice around, partners meeting with 
a bow on last measure. To dance the right-and-left, each 
child faces its partner, touching right hands. Still facing 
in the same direction, each child continues on around the 
circle, giving her left and right hands alternately to the 
girls she meets. While this movement may seem hard at 
first, it really is very easily learned. 

3. Pianist plays the waltz as written. Head couples 
walk to center and back, using the same step as in entering. 
Side couples repeat. (Each group takes eight touch steps 
in this exercise; four steps toward center and four back to 
position.) 

4. Pianist plays the waltz an octave higher. Children 
repeat 2. 

5. Pianist plays the waltz as written. Head couples meet 
at center and cross over, girls passing inside, partners 


154 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


turning each other; then crossing back to original posi¬ 
tions and turning each other once more. Side couples 
repeat 

6. Repeat 2. 

7. Head couples dance the dos-a-dos movement, viz: 
four steps to center, turn about each other, girls inside, 
back to back, then without turning, walk back four steps 
to place. Side couples repeat; then head couples and then 
side. (Children walk with common step in this figure.) 

8. Repeat 2. 

9. Head girls walk to center, touching right hands in 
passing, turn opposite boys with left hand, cross back to 
place, touching right hands in passing, and turn partners. 
Si le girls repeat. 

10. Repeat 2. 

11. Boys repeat 9. 

12. Repeat 2. 

13. Each of the four girls walks to center, clasps right 
hand with opposite girl, and the four circle about once, 
then turn partners twice. Girls repeat a second time. 

14. Repeat 2. 

15. Boys repeat 13. 

16. Repeat 2. 

17. Couples circle to the left, using touch step as when 
entering, and exit. 


THE DANCE OF THE CHRISTMAS CANDIES 

Harriete Wilbur 

FOR TWELVE SMALL GIRLS AND ONE SMALL BOY 
COSTUMES 

Six of the girls are Peppermint Sticks; each of them wears a 
straight, scant sack-apron of white, and on the head a very tall cylin¬ 
der of white paper. On the body of the apron and on the hat are 
painted or pasted scarlet stripes that run spirally around toward the 
bottom. Each carries a large peppermint cane. Six of the girls are 


DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


155 


lollipops ; each wears a straight scant sack-apron of brown cambric; 
this forms the ‘ ‘ stick the lump of candy at the end of the ‘ ‘ stick ' ’ 
is made of red or yellow cambric, cut like an immense round bottle 
with a short neck. The neck part slips over the head, and at the 
front is cut out for the face; the bottle part is wired to stand up 
high above the head. Each lollipop carries several ‘ 1 all-day- 
suckers. ’ ’ 

The boy wears a long white confectioner’s apron, and a little round 
white cap. A tiny French moustache and goatee would add to his 
appearance. 

Curtain rises, showing the twelve girls arranged in two lines as in 
Diagram No. 1. (P represents the peppermints, and L the lolli¬ 
pops.) 



DIAGRAM NO. 1 


The boy enters briskly from rear, and walks up center to 
front. He greets the audience with an elaborate bow, hand 
on heart. He may carry a sauce-pan and an immense 
spoon, if desired. The children sing the following candy 
song B indicating the boy’s part, P the Peppermints, L 
the Lollipops. The boy should sing with good expression, 
much as though talking. 

Pianist repeats the music for the chorus, while the boy 
bows and runs off and the girls swing into position at 
center of platform, as in Diagram No. 2. (Girls look to¬ 
ward front.) 

L L L L L L 
P P P P P P 


DIAGRAM NO. 2 


The Candy Song 


Harriette Wilbur Old Tune 



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east to west? And nev - er, nev - er let them rest? Why, 

lots of joy, Be sure their taste will nev - er cloy On 

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DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


157 


For the dance the pianist plays Dvorak’s ‘‘Humoreske.’’ 
When first taking up the drill, if the instructor will num¬ 
ber the measures of her copy, it will be found much more 
easily followed. Pianist plays slowly, and with marked 
accent. 

A. Measure 1. (Count four beats to the measure.) On 
first beat tap left toe at left side; on second beat tap left 
toe to the right side, crossing feet; on third beat tap left 
toe to left side; on fourth beat step forward on left foot. 

B. Measure 2. On first beat tap right toe to side; on 
second tap right toe to the right side, crossing feet; on 
third beat tap right toe to left side; on fourth beat step 
forward on right foot. 

C. Measure 3. Repeat A. 

D. Measure 4. Turn half-way about in four steps, 
thus facing rear. 

E. Measures 5, 6, 7, 8. Repeat A to D, thus coming 
about to face front again, standing in original positions. 

F. Repeat A to E. 

G. Measures 9 and 10. On first beat of measure 9, 
each girl takes a long swinging step to the left, and as an 
afterbeat she swings the right foot into position beside the 
left, at the same time rising on toes; at the second beat she 
settles back on heels; on the third beat she takes another 
step to the left, immediately swinging right foot into posi¬ 
tion beside the left and rising on toes; on the fourth beat 
settles back on heels. Repeat these same steps for meas¬ 
ure 10. 

H. Measures 11-12. Repeat the side-steps as in G, but 
to the right. 

I. Measures 13-14. Repeat G. 

J. Measures 15-16. Repeat H, ritarding with the music. 

K. Measures 17-24. Repeat A to E. 

L. Measure 25. On the first four notes each girl takes 
four tiny running steps forward (equivalent to two beats) ; 
on the third beat she bends her knees quickly in a little 
courtesy, at the same time raising arms horizontally at 
sides; on the fourth beat she straightens knees and drops 
arms. 


158 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


M. Measure 26. On the first beat each girl touches left 
foot to side; on second beat she brings left foot back to 
position; on third beat she touches right foot at side; on 
fourth beat she brings right foot into position. If desired, 
the corresponding hand may be extended to the side, and 
brought back, in time with the foot. 

N. Measure 27. Repeat L. 

O. Measure 28. Repeat M. 

P. Measure 29. Repeat L. 

Q. Measure 30. Repeat M. 

R. Measure 31. Repeat L. 

S. Measure 32. Turn half-way 
thus facing rear. 

T. Measures 33-40. Repeat L to S, at the close being in 
original positions, facing front. 

U. Measures 41-48. Repeat A to E. 

Y. Measures 49-56. Repeat G to J, but the peppermints 
all keep going toward the left, and the lollipops toward 
the right, until at the close of measure 56 not a girl is in 
sight. 


about in four steps, 


THE MARCH OF THE CHRISTMAS TREES 

Harriette Wilbur 

FOR EIGHT BOYS AND EIGHT GIRLS OF THE INTERMEDIATE 
OR GRAMMAR GRADES 

COSTUMES 

The boys are dressed in 11 Boy Scout ’ 9 uniform. Each carries a small 
evergreen or Christmas tree bough, which should be three feet long 
and large enough to form a good-sized tree in the last figure. There 
are also eight girls, dressed in white, carrying strands of tinsel five 
feet or more in length. If preferred, the girls may carry chains of 
colored papers, all red, green-and-red, or rainbow mixtures. 

Music: An appropriate march. 

Boys enter, with trees on shoulders, and march about the 


DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


159 


stage and halt in a line along rear. Girls enter, hands on 
hips and strings festooned from hand to hand, march about 
stage, and halt in line along front. 

1. Boys march forward and girls march toward rear, 
with backward steps. Reaching front and rear, boys re¬ 
turn to rear with backward steps, and girls to front. 

2. Girls face boys and hold chains high. March to meet; 
at center pass about each other by twos, back to back, and 
return to original positions. 

3. End boys march diagonally across the stage, until 
they meet; others swing into line, and they thus form a 
double row down center. The girls, meanwhile, break into 
two lines and follow end girls down sides. Boys form four 
arches by holding their trees obliquely upward, tips touch¬ 
ing. Girls march by twos down this aisle, swinging chains 
slightly, from left to right, as they walk. Girls circle about 
thus twice. 

4. The two lines of boys turn back to back and the two 
lines of girls halt at sides of stage, facing boys, as in this 
figure: 


G 

B 

B 

G 

G 

B 

B 

G 

G 

B 

B 

G 

G 

B 

B 

G 


5. Each group of four boys and four girls repeat 2. 

6. Boys about face, form arch, and girls repeat 3. 

7. Boys bring trees into “carry arms” position, and 
circle about. Girls hold chains high and circle about in 
opposite direction, thus: 



160 


the BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 



8. Halt in two groups, as in 4, and repeat 2. 

9. Form four groups of two girls and two boys each, as 
in this figure; circle about twice. 


G 

G 

B B 

B B 

G 

G 

G 

G 

B B 

B B 

G 

G 

two groups, as 

in 4, and 


10. Ha 

11. Repeat 7. 

12. Boys face center of their circle and extend trees 
toward center. Girls circle about, weaving in and out. 

13. Boys march in circle, with trees at “carry arms,” 
while girls kneel in circle outside. 

14. The two circles march in opposite directions, weav¬ 
ing in and out. 

15. ’ Girls spread into a half-circle at rear, marking time 
and swinging chains to left and right. One boy steps into 
the center, and holds his tree high on his shoulder. The 
seven boys extend the tips of their trees toward him, to 
graze the tip of his tree, and circle about. 





DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


161 


16. Boys halt; three form half-circle facing outside, 
with trees at carry arms, and four kneel in a half-circle in 
front of the three. The branches are held so as to form the 
front view of a Christmas tree. (Several rehearsals will 
be needed to form this satisfactorily.) The girls circle 
about the tree, swinging chains high at the side. At last 

Hurrah for the Christinas Tree 


Clara Wallace J. C. Lowry 




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162 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Hurrah for the Qhristmas Tree-Concluded 




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they toss their chains on the tree, form in a half-circle 
behind the tree, and all sing. 

After singing they hold the tableau until the curtain 
closes, or if there is no curtain the boys disentangle their j 
trees and march off in single line, the girls scampering off 
on either side of them. 

























































































DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


163 


THE HOLLY WREATHS 

Harriette Wilbur 

FOR SIX GIRLS OF THE INTERMEDIATE OR GRAMMAR GRADES 
COSTUMES 

FuLL-skirted white dresses, trimmed about the bottom, neck and 
sleeves with tissue-paper or cambric wreaths of holly,—green for the 
leaves and red for the berries, with red bows at intervals. Also 
wreaths for the hair. Each girl carries a wreath of holly in her 
hand, which may be either the genuine foliage or a pasteboard circle 
covered with the tissue or cambric leaves, berries and bows. 

Music: A waltz. 

Girls enter in a single line, from each side, three in each. 
They advance to the front, using the following step: For¬ 
ward on right foot at first count; touch left toe one step 
forward on second count; touch left toe one step backward 
on third count. Forward on left foot at first count; touch 
right toe one step forward on second count; touch right toe 
one step backward on third count. While stepping, the 
wreaths are thrust forward on first count, to left side on 
second, dropped to knees on third, etc. Repeat these steps 
about the stage, as desired, and halt in line across the front. 

Girls now recite Eliza Cook’s poem, given below. All 
speak the first four lines, then one girl recites alone the 
four lines indicated by No. 1; all recite the next four lines; 
another girl takes up the four lines marked No. 2; another 
the four lines marked No. 3, etc. Those who recite en solo 
step forward slightly while speaking. 


The Christmas Holly 

All: 

The holly! the holly! oh, twine it with bay— 
Come give the holly a song; 

For it helps to drive stern winter away, 

With his garment so sombre and long! 


164 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


NO. 1: 

It peeps through the trees with its berries of red, 
And its leaves of burnished green, 

When the flowers and fruits have long been dead, 
And not even the daisy is seen. 


All: 

Then sing to the holly, the Christmas holly, 

That hangs over peasant and king; 

While we laugh and carouse ’neath its glittering boughs s 
To the Christmas holly we’ll sing. 


No. 2: 

The gale may whistle; the frost may come 
To fetter the gurgling rill; 

The woods may be bare, and warblers dumb, 
But holly is beautiful still. 


No. 3: 

In the revel and light of princely halls 
The bright holly branch is found; 

And its shadow falls on the lowliest walls, 
While the brimming horn goes round. 


No. 4: 

The ivy lives long, but its home must be 
Where graves and ruins are spread; 
There’s beauty about the cypress tree, 

But it flourishes near the dead. 

The laurel the warrior’s brow may wreathe, 
But it tells of tears and blood; 

1 sing of holly, and who can breathe 
Aught of that that is not good? 


DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


165 


All*. 

Then sing to the holly, the Christmas holly, 

That hangs over peasant and king; 

While we laugh and carouse ’neath its glittering boughs, 
To the Christmas holly we’ll sing. 

—Eliza Cook . 


The girls then sing the following carol: ‘ ‘ The Holly and 
the Ivy.” If they can sing in four parts, or in two, it will 
be more effective, though all may sing in unison, if neces¬ 
sary. 

The Holly and the Ivy 


Old French Carol Tune 





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The Hoi - ly 
The Hoi - ly 


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166 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


The Holly and the Ivy—Concluded 




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As white as a lil - y fiow’r; And Ma-ry bore sweet Je-sus Christ to 
As sharp as a - ny thorn, And Ma-ry bore sweet Je-sus Christ on 
Now both are well - grown; Of all the trees that are in the wood, the 


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on Christmas Day in the mom, 
the Hoi - ly bears the crown. 




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The girls now recite Southey’s poem, ‘‘The Holly Tree,” 
all reciting the first stanza and each a stanza alone. 


The Holly Tree 

0 Reader ! hast thou ever stood to see 
The holly tree? 

The eye that contemplates it well, perceives 
Its glossy leaves, 

Ordered by an intelligence so wise 
As might confound the atheist’s sophistries. 

Below, a circling fence, its leaves are seen 
Wrinkled and keen; 

No grazing cattle, through their prickly round, 
Can reach to wound; 

But as they grow where nothing is to fear, 
Smooth and unarm’d the pointless leaves appear. 






























































DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 167 

I love to view these things with curious eyes, 

And moralize; 

And in this wisdom of the holly-tree 
Can emblems see 

Wherewith, perchance, to make a pleasant rhyme; 

One which may profit in the after-time. 

Thus, though abroad, perchance I might appear 
Harsh and austere; 

To those who on my leisure would intrude, 

Reserved and rude; 

Gentle at home amid my friends I’d be, 

Like the high leaves upon the holly tree. 

And should my youth, as youth is apt, I know, 

Some harshness show, 

All vain asperities I, day by day, 

Would wear away, 

Till the smooth temper of my age should be 

Like the high leaves upon the holly tree. 

And as, when all the summer trees are seen 
So bright and green, 

The holly leaves their fadeless hues display 
Less bright than they; 

But when the hare and wintry woods we see, 

What, then, so cheerful as the holly tree? 

So, serious should my youth appear among 
The thoughtless throng; 

So would I seem amid the young and gay, 

More grave than they; 

That in my age as cheerful I might be 

As the green winter of the holly tree. 

—Robert Southey. 

Girls now sing the following adaptation of Miss Cook’s 
poem: 


Sing the Holly 


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DRILLS, ACROSTICS, MOTION SONGS 


169 


Sing the Holly—Concluded 



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Pianist plays a waltz or a melody in 6-8 time. Girls take 
this position: 

3 4 

12 5 6 

1. Bring each wreath down in front, with both hands; 
raise over head. Repeat four times. 

2. Wreath held in both hands, against breast; bring 
cut in front, and back to breast. Four times. 

3. Wreath held against breast in right hand; raise high 
to right. Four times. 

4. Repeat 3 with left hand. 

5. Nos. 1, 3 and 5 hold wreath in right hand, Nos. 2, 4 
and 6 hold wreath in left. Hold wreath against breast one 
count; high to side one count. Repeat four times. 

6. Change wreaths to other hand, and repeat 5, partners 
thus crossing wreaths. 

7. Partners hold wreaths high, touching, and march in 
circle. Circle once, then about face and circle again. 


































































L70 


'Ttissi tftfST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


8. Wreath held against breast, in both hands, then out 
to right side. Repeat four counts. 

9. Repeat 8 at left. 

10. Alternate 8 and 9. 

11. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 touch wreaths in one group; Nos. 
4, 5 and 6 in another. Both groups circle about once, then 
about face and circle again. 

12. Repeat 7. 

13. Nos. 1, 3 and 5 kneel, holding wreaths up, while 
partners circle about once. Then Nos. 1, 3 and 5 rise while 
partners kneel. 

14. Hold wreaths over head in both hands and march 
in one large circle, marching toward the left. Circle about 
once, then about face and circle again, waving wreaths high. 

15. About face; hold wreath in right hand at arm’s 
length, to touch shoulder of one in front; circle about once. 
About face and circle, holding wreath in left hand to touch 
shoulder of girl in front. 

16. Halt in original position, with wreaths in both 
hands. Hold wreath against breast, then on right shoulder. 

17. Repeat 16 at left. 

18. Alternate 16 and 17. 

19. Wreaths forward, to left shoulder, to right shoul¬ 
der, to breast. Repeat four times. 

20. Lunge forward on left foot, at the same time rais¬ 
ing wreath high at left front; bend forward and lower 
wreath to knee, then lift high at left front, tnen drop to 
knee and step back to place. Four times. 

21. Repeat 20 at right side, four times. 

22. Partners face each other and repeat 20 and 21. 

23. Repeat 14 and 15 and march off. 


I 



BESSIE’S CHRISTMAS DREAM 

Marie Irish 


Upon the wall at the back of stage hangs a large cloth stocking, at 
least three feet long. It should be stuffed with paper or cloth to 
almost the top. To the outside of the stocking are pinned a number 
of dolls of various sizes and kinds, while from the top of the stocking 
peep forth at least six more. In a tiny rocking-chair, with face 
toward the stocking, profile to the audience, sits a little girl, her 
hands clasped in her lap, head bent forward, fast asleep. As a bright 
light is thrown upon the scene, the following lines are read: 

Oh, such a lovely Christmas dream as little Bessie had! 

A monstrous stocking full of dolls—enough to make six 
children glad. 

Plump dollies fat, and dollies small, 

With dollies short and dollies tall; 

Stylish ladies with curls and hows, 

Sweet little tots in long white clothes. 

Every one such a beautiful dear— 

They fill Bessie’s heart with Christmas cheer. 

AT CHRISTMAS TIME 

Marie Irish 

Have dark background and at the center of back of stage arrange 
three boxes or pedestals, which should be covered with dark cloth. 
Let one pedestal be higher than the other two—the lower ones being 
placed somewhat to the front and at the sides of the highest one. 
From the ceiling above the highest pedestal suspend a large, red 
paper bell, from which hangs a two-inch strip of red paper. Three 
girls, each dressed in white, hair flowing, stand upon the pedestals, 

171 







172 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


the one at the back being taller than the other two. She looks up 
toward the bell and in her hand holds the strip suspended from it. 
One girl smiles at the audience and holds in her hand a wreath of 
holly—or evergreen if holly is not available. The other girl holds in 
her arms a dolly, at which she is smiling.lovingly. Bright light is 
thrown upon the scene and these lines are read: 

Oh, the bells peal forth and merrily say: 

“Peace and good-will this glad Christmas day.” 

The bright holly breathes the spirit of cheer, 

And love kindles fires in hearts that were drear; 
While countless children are filled with the joy 
Which comes with the gift of a Christmas toy. 


CHRISTMAS SCENES 

Marie Irish 

A SONG WITH A SERIES OF TABLEAUX FOR A NUMBER OF 
CHILDREN 

I .—Hanging the Stockings 

As the song (which is sung by voices behind the scenes) begins, four 
or five children enter, each carrying a long stocking which has a loop 
sewed to it so that it may be hung upon the wall quickly and easily. 
There should be a nail for each stocking in a row upon the wall. 

Tune: my old Kentucky home 

’Tis Christmas eve and the children all are gay, 

For Santa is coming, ere long; 

[Children enter in line, dance gayly across the stage and 
hack again.] 

Each child on the wall where the dim shadows play, 

Must hang up a stocking large and strong. 

[Children stand in a row and each holds up stocking to - 
ward audience.] 

’Tis Christmas eve and their hearts beat with delight, 
[Each child hangs stocking on wall and comes hack to line.] 
As visions of gifts fill each mind; 

Alas! how tiresome; how long will be the night, 

Waiting till their treasures they shall find. 


TABLEAUX AND PANTOMIMES 


173 


[At word, alas” each child raises right arm, with forearm 
bent so hand touches chin; then tips head to side, lays 
cheek against the arm, and holds till chorus begins.] 

Chorus: 

Sing a song of Christmas; of presents fair and bright; 

[Children stand erect; hands at sides; faces very smiling.] 
Now tired eyelids droop, for the hour is growing late, 
[Shoulders droop; heads drop forward; eyes close.] 

Off to bed all must scamper; so good-night. 

[Each child makes a low bow; then they run from stage.] 

CURTAIN 

II.— Filling the Stockings 

The stockings remain hanging on the wall as at the close of No. I. 
As the singing begins, bells are rung softly off stage, and just before 
Santa Claus enters he calls out: “ Whoa! steady there; stand still! ” 
A boy dressed as Santa Claus, with a pack of presents from which to 
fill the stockings, takes the part of Saint Nicholas. 

The hour grows late; hark ! the bells ring soft and clear ! 
A clatter of hoofs you may hear; 

With his big sled and his nimble white reindeer, 

Good old Santa Claus is drawing near. 

He enters now, with his pack upon his back, 

[Enter Santa Claus.] 

From the land of big icebergs and snow; 

Of toys and goodies there’s sure to be no lack 
For the stockings hanging in a row. 

[Santa looks at the row of stockings; laughs at them; then 
begins quickly to put some presents in each one, working 
rapidly.] 

Chorus: 

Sing a song of Christmas; of presents fair and bright; 
He fills up the stockings, then jolly Santa Claus 
[Finishes filling stockings.] 

Wishes all the sleeping children good-night. 

[Bows, smiles, waves hand and passes off.] 

CURTAIN 


174 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


III .—Christmas Morning 

The stockings, filled with presents, hang as at the close of No* IX 
The children who were in Scene I now enter, wearing long white 
night-gowns—the girls with hair hanging about their faces. 

While darkness still holds the world in its embrace, 
The children come running to see, 

[Children came running onto stage.] 

The bulging stockings, each hanging in its place; 

Oh, they laugh and dance about with glee! 

[Dance about and clap their hands.] 

Each claims his stocking and without more delay, 

[Each child takes stocking from wall; sits on chair, begins 
to pull out presents, and hold them up for others to see.] 
The contents doth quickly explore. 

And thus beginneth a merry Christmas day— 

May good Santa live forever more! 

Chorus: 

Sing a song of Christmas; presents fair and bright; 
[Children stand up in a row, each with stocking in ont 
hand and presents in the other, and a bright light is 
turned on; children smiling while gazing at gifts.] 

The merry day all too soon will pass away, 

So enjoy the hours ere cometh the night. 

CURTAIN 

NEWSBOY TIM 

A Pantomime 

Marie Irish 

The scenes are acted as the words are read by some one at side of 
stage. Across stage, several feet from the front, have a curtain 
which parts at the center and can be drawn to each side. Just in 
front of this parting have a long, rather low box to represent a door¬ 
step. Back of the curtain have a branch of evergreen fastened to 
wall, trimmed with candles, bright tinsel, etc., and a number of 
presents fastened to it. The front of stage should be very dimly 
lighted. As the curtain is drawn the scene back of it should be 
brightly lighted. 


TABLEAUX AND PANTOMIMES 


175 


’Tis Christmas eve and newsboy Tim , 

With no one to love or care for him, 

Small boy enters at side, dressed in thin, ragged clothes, 
carrying some papers. Comes very slowly toward center. 
No cheerful home to which to go, 

Wanders on in the cold and snow. 

Moves slowly forward, stopping to gaze about the street. 
From back of the curtain handfuls of white paper, torn 
into fine pieces to represent snow, are thrown upon him. 
No one cares for papers to-night; 

The crowds are thronging the big stores bright; 

Tim looks about stage, holding up paper as if to attract 
buyers. 

While Tim, as they go passing by, 

Thinks of his meager funds with a sigh. 

Puts hand in pocket, brings out few coins, shakes head 
sadly. 

At last, quite lonely, tired and depressed, 

He sits upon a door-step to rest, 

Sits down on box at center of stage, drops head on hand. 
And as the snow falls, soft and white, 

A Christmas carol floats on the night. 

Handfuls of paper snow are thrown upon him from over 
the top of the curtain. Several voices back of scenes sing: 

Tune: he leadeth me (Chorus only.) 

Good people, let us all be gay, 

While keeping this glad holiday; 

Let all the earth be filled with cheer, 

For Merry Christmas day is near. 

As the music ceases the curtains are drawn apart, several 
feet at the center, back of the box on which Tim sits. 

Then the door behind him opens wide, 

A sweet-faced woman comes to his side; 

A woman comes forward and bends over Tim. Back of her 
are several small children, smiling happily. 

While happy children with much delight 
Lead Tim to a room all warm and bright. 


176 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


The children help Tim to rise and lead him back into room 
behind the curtain. 

“Won’t it be fine,” they cry with joy, 

“To share our Christmas with this little boy?” 
Children motion Tim to look at presents. 

And Tim smiled gladly, for now he knew. 

His Christmas was going to be happy, too. 

Children stand grouped about Tim, each holding out a 
present to him and smiling gayly. 

curtain 

SALLY’S CHRISTMAS 

A Pantomime 

CHARACTERS—STAGE ARRANGEMENT 

Sally Connor; Mrs. Connor, the sick mother; Miss Husted, who 
plays Lady Bountiful; Grace, Edna, Doctor Norton. Characters do 
the acting, as the words are read by some one at side of stage. 
Across stage, several feet from the front, hang a curtain which can 
be easily drawn aside. Back of this curtain place a cot, a couple of 
old chairs and a small table. 


SCENE I. 

Christmas Eve 

Mrs. Connor lies on cot covered with old quilt; Sally, poorly dressed, 
with small shawl about her, sits near table, upon which are a few 
dishes, and a lighted candle. 

It is a cold, bleak Christmas eve, and the wind whistles 
dismally around the poor house where live Sally Connor 
and her mother. Little Sally draws her thin shawl more 
closely about her [Sally shivers and pulls shawl closer] 
and wipes away the tears that will come when she remem¬ 
bers it is Christmas eve. [Shakes head sadly and wipes 
eyes.] Such a dreary Christmas outlook! Her mother 
sick; scarcely any food in the house; and mother had said 
Santa Claus couldn’t possibly find them this year. [Sally 
wipes eyes.] Surely good Saint Nicholas would bring them 
something if he knew what hard luck they were having. 
Why not write him a letter! [Sally rises eagerly.] Mother 
is asleep and will never know. [She tiptoes over and looks 


TABLEAUX AND PANTOMIMES 


177 


at her mother, then comes bach to table.] It is late to send 
it but, perhaps, it will reach Santa in time so he can bring 
them a few little presents. [Sally gets pencil and a piece 
of soiled paper; sits at table and begins to write.] It is 
hard for Sally to write, because girls who have to work all 
day do not have a chance to go to school, but mother has 
taught her evenings, so she can write well enough to make 
Santa Claus understand her troubles. How surprised 
mother will be and how glad when the presents come. 
There; it is finished. [Sally folds up paper, rises, tip-toes 
over and looks at her mother, then hurries from the room.] 
Now she must get it safely into the mail-box on the corner 
and be back before mother shall awaken. If only Santa 
gets it in time! [As Sally passes off the curtain is drawn 
across the stage, ready for tiie street scene.] Sally hurries 
eagerly down the cold street, [She enters at right side, 
in front of curtain, and at the same time a tall girl, nicely 
dressed with coat, hat and furs, comes on at the other side] 
grasping the precious letter closely in her hand. Suddenly 
she stops [Sally halts and begins to rub her eyes] as she 
remembers that she has no stamp for her letter—nor even 
an envelope. [Miss Husted stops near Sally and puts 
her hand on the chiWs shoidder.] “What is the matter, 
my dear?” a kind voice asks and Sally looks up to find a 
sweet-faced young woman by her side. “My letter can’t 
go,” Sally sobbed. “My letter to Santa Claus, an’ now we 
won’t get any presents an’ mother is sick, an’ we’re so 
poor an’—oh, dear!” [Miss Husted puts arm around 
Sally.] “Now suppose you let me take the letter,” sug¬ 
gests the young woman. “I know just where dear old 
Santa Claus is to be found to-night, and I’ll see that he 
gets this. [Sally gives her the letter.] “Will you surely 
give it to him?” Sally asks, eagerly. “And don’t forget to 
tell him we live in the old house over there. [Sally points 
and Miss Husted nods head.] Now, I must run home be¬ 
fore mother wakes up.” [Sally turns and runs from 
stage. Miss Husted opens note and reads.] The tears come 
to the young lady’s eyes as she reads Sally’s sad little let¬ 
ter, and she resolves to help Santa Claus bring a bit of 


178 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Christmas cheer to the poor child and her sick mothei 
[.Passes off.] 

SCENE II. 

Christmas Morning 

Mrs. Connor lies upon the cot; Sally walks about the room looking 
eagerly in corners and under the table. 

Christmas morning has come and Sally hunts anxiously 
for the tokens from Santa Claus. Surely he will come! 
The kind lady upon the street would not fail to give him 
the letter, she is sure. But the closest search reveals noth¬ 
ing, and Sally sighs as she begins to prepare her mother’s 
meager breakfast. Perhaps he will come by and by—but 
Tillie Rankin said Santa Claus always came while it was 
dark. [Sally cuts two thin slices oj bread from a loaf and 
places them upon a plate.] Poor mother looks so sick; if 
only she could have a good Christmas dinner, Sally is sure 
she would feel better. If only— only Santa Claus could 
bring a bottle of medicine like Jennie Horton’s mother had 
to make her well. Oh, why must Christmas be such a sad 
day when it ought to be merry? [Sally pours some weak 
tea from an old tea-pot.] “Your breakfast is almost ready, 
mother,” Sally says cheerfully and, at that instant, comes 
a rap upon the door. Before Sally can open it two happy 
children enter, followed by the kind young lady. [Enter 
Miss Husted with Grace and Edna — two little girls with 
pretty coats and caps — all three carrying packages.] 
“Merry Christmas,” they all cry. “Santa Claus was so 
busy he just couldnH come, so we are his helpers. This 
dolly is for you [Grace holds up a doll] and we have some 
nice things for your mother, too.” [They put packages 
upon table. Miss Husted goes over to cot and takes Mrs. 
Connor’s hand.] “And, oh, here comes our doctor who is 
going to make your mother well.” [Enter Doctor, who 
goes to* Mrs. Connor, feels pidse; opens medicine chest; 
gets out bottles, etc.] Happy Sally can only smile for joy. 
Santa Claus did remember them and Christmas is going 
to be merry, after all! [Sally laughs as the little girls put 
packages upon table.) 



Pantomimed 
■ Sorias ♦ 



MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY 

To be given by a number of girls dressed in white trimmed with ever¬ 
green, hair tied, with green ribbons, each carrying a branch of ever¬ 
green or of holly. The girls can sing the words and act them as they 
sing, or they can be sung by voices off stage and the girls pantomime 
the lines. 


Tune: old black joe 

1. High in the heavens Christmas stars are shining 
bright; 

Right hand holding holly raised and pointing upward. 

Sweet Christmas songs softly float upon the night; 
Left hand moved with a sweeping gesture from the right 
out to the left. 

Peace upon earth and to all mankind good-will, 

Step forward with right foot, right hand with holly raised 
and held to the front, palm down. 

And may the loving Christmas spirit each heart fill. 
Right hand with the holly over heart. As line is completed 
bring right foot back to former position. 

Chorus: 

It’s coming! It’s coming! The merry Christmas 
day; 

Right hand with holly held at height of shoulder, at right 
side. 

Hang up the holly, we’ll be jolly Christmas day. 
Raise holly and wave it above the head, smiling happily. 

179 



180 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


2. Plump, round mince pies are upon the pantry shelf; 
Hands held in front of body to outline a circle. 

Plum puddings rare, hut don’t you help yourself! 
Shake a warning finger at the audience. 

Stockings are hung firmly on the chimney ivall, 

Half of girls point to right, and others to left. 

And soon good Santa Claus will come with gifts for 
all. 

Step forward with right foot, both hands extended to the 
front. 

Chorus, same as before. 

3. Gay Christmas trees stand, with branches green and 

tall, 

Right hand with holly pointing upward, as if to top of tree. 

Loaded with horns, balls and dollies, large and small; 
For horns, hold left hand in front of mouth, curved like a 
horn; both hands to outline a circle for ball; hands held to 
measure a large doll and then a small one. 

You must watch out and be careful what you dc, 
Shake warning finger; then fold arms and look very meek. 
And then old Santa Claus will bring some gifts for 
you. 

Right foot forward; both hands extended to front. 

Chorus, same as before. 

GOOD SANTA CLAUS 

To be pantomimed by several children with elaborate gestures 

Tune: auld lang syne 

1. A long, long, LONG way off from here, 

Step forward with right foot and extend right hand as far 
as possible to the front. 

’Mid icebergs and reindeer, 

Left hand pointing up high, eyes looking up for icebergs • 
thumbs standing up at side of top of head, and fingers 
spread and pointing up for antlers of reindeer. 


PANTOMIMED SONGS 


181 


There dwells a man for whom we watch 
Right hand shading eyes; body inclined forward, as if look¬ 
ing into distance. 

„ About this time of year. 

Though lie’s most as old as the stars, 

Strike attitude of old man; body bent; left hand on hip; 
right hand pointing upward. 

His heart is young, oh, ho! 

Right hand on heart; smile and bow. 

He drives his reindeer with great skill, 

Hands out in front, sawing, as if driving wild team. 

As he scoots through the snow. 

Right hand swung forward from the left shoulder obliquely 
to the right, as far as possible, stepping forward with right 
foot. Quick movement. 

2. But Santa Claus is up-to-date, 

Right hand forward; convincing gesture; left hand on hip. 
And we think, by and by, 

Right hand against side of head; scowl, as if thinking. 

In a new-fangled flyin’ machine 
Both arms waved up and down at sides. 

He will sail through the sky. 

Right hand raised high; sweeping gesture from left to right. 

And should it chance to spill him out — 

Both hands on hips; gaze upward with terrified expression. 

It’s apt to, sure as sin! 

Hands brought together with a slap. 

I hope ’twill be above MY house, 

Right hand laid across heart. 

So Santa can drop in. 

Both hands held up, as if to catch him; eyes looking up¬ 
ward. 


3. Our parents say that Santa Claus 
Likes children who are good, 

Both hands out slightly; nodding heads, moving lips, as if 
talking 


182 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Who never scold, or pout, or fight, 

Scowl and move lips, look sullen and pout, then shake fist 
at audience. 

Who carry water and wood. 

Bend forward arms out as if encircling a large armful of 
wood. 

Oh, Santa, we are VERY good, 

Stand very stiff and straight; faces drawn very long; eyes 
rolled upward; arms folded across breast. 

And we love you, we do, 

Same position as in last line, nodding heads gravely. 

So here’s a hug and great big kiss 
We’d like to send to you. 

Reach forward with arms out, as if encircling a large per¬ 
son, then bring hands together tightly at center of breast; 
step forward with right foot and throw a kiss with loud 
smack. 



on&s ©.Atusic 


3" —tf i? 3T 



CHRISTMAS TIME 

Thos. B. Weaver 

Tune: Yankee doodle 

Christmas time is drawing near 
With jolly old Kris Kringle; 

Oh! how glad we ’ll be to hear 
His tiny sleigh-bells jingle. 

Chorus: 

Santa loves the boys and girls; 

Santa is a dandy; 

Santa brings us lots of toys, 

And fruits and nuts and candy. 

From the Northland far away, 
Where it is cold and dreary, 

Santa comes with loaded sleigh, 

To make our Christmas cheery. 


Chorus 


Down the chimneys, large and small, 
While every one is sleeping, 

With his pack of gifts for all, 

Old Santa Claus comes creeping. 


\ 


183 


Chorus 













184 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


Soon we ’ll trim the Christmas tree, 
And wreathe the rooms with holly; 
Santa will be glad to see 
His little friends so jolly. 


Chorus 

Now three cheers for old Saint Nick, 

So good and kind and clever; 

How we wish he’d come right quick, 
And stay with us forever. 

Chorus 


CHRISTMAS BELLS 

Thos. B. Weaver 
Tune: sunshine in the soul 

The bells, the merry Christmas bells, 
Are ringing sweet and clear; 

Each one a blessed message tells 
Of love and Christmas cheer. 

Chorus: 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 
Let the whole glad world a carol sing, 

And praise the Babe of Bethlehem— 
Now our Savior, Lord and King. 

The bells of praise in notes sublime, 
Like heaven’s choir of old, 

Repeat in holy Christmas chime, 

The story angels told. 


Chorus 


SONGS AND MUSIC 


185 


The bells of peace ring out again, 

This happy Christmas morn; 

Of peace on earth, good-will to men, 
And how our Lord was born. 

Chorus 

The bells of charity and love, 

Their gifts of Christmas bear; 

And with the gifted throng above, 
Unite in praise and prayer. 

Chorus 


CHRISTMAS DAY 

Tune: when you hear the first whip-poor-will cry 

Oh, come where the lights are all shining, 

Where hearts are all happy and gay; 

Where myrtle and holly are twining, 

For this is the glad Christmas Day. 

Chorus: 

Ring the bells, ring the bells, 

Ring the bells, ring the bells, 

This is the glad Christmas Day. 

Come meet us, and greet us 
With love on this glad Christmas Day. 

With labor some hands may be aching— 

Oh, banish all care for a day. 

With sorrow some hearts may be breaking; 

Then how shall the spirit be eray ? 

Chorus: 

Ring the bells, ring the bells, 

Ring the bells, ring the bells, 

This is the glad Christmas Day. 

Christ meets us, and greets us 
With love on this glad Christmas Day. 


WHEN SANTA CLAUS COMES 


Words and music by T. B. Weaver 




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1 . 

A good 

time is near; 

We wish 

it were here— 

The 

2. 

We’ll all 

say good-by, 

And no 

one will sigh, 

But 

3. 

In row 

aft - er row, 

Some high 

and some low, 

Our 

4. 

We’ll work 

hard to-day, 

And not 

think of play; 

We’ll 



















































































































When Santa Claus Comes—Concluded 



til the good time 

noth-ing but play 

all kinds of pres-ents 
we’ll all be so hap - py 


when San 
when San 
when * San 
when San 

I 


ta Claus comes, 
ta Claus comes, 
ta Claus comes, 
ta Claus comes. 


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Chorus 


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San - ta Claus 1 San - ta Claus! E 

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lein - deer and sleigh 1 We’R 

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THE HAPPIEST CHRISTMAS DAY. 


Words and music by T. B. Weaver 



What can the chil - 
What can- they do 
What can they say 


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do or say, 
poor they be, 
Christ-mas time, 


To make this the 
To help the kind 
To add to the 


What can they give to your Lord and mine, To show they are 




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hap - pi-est Christ-mas day? How can they add to its mirth and its 
hand of sweet char - i - ty? How can they brighten the homes that are 
Christ-mas bells’ sweet chime? How can they join in that first Christmas 
glad for His love di-vine? What can they bring, like the wise men of 



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cheer, To make it the 

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some Christmas cheer? 
heav-en’s glad throng? 
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The Happiest Christmas Day—Concluded 

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Their words of cheer, their songs of praise; 



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1 . 9 ^ 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 

Thos. B. Weaver 
Tune: Greenville 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

Let the happy children sing; 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

And their gifts of Christmas bring; 
Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 
To the Christ-Child, Lord and King. 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

Shout the children this glad day; 
Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

If at work, or if at play; 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 
Children’s voices sweetly say. 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

Words of greeting, love and cheer; 
Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

’Tis the best time of the year; 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 
Send the message far and near. 

Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

Silver bells ring out with glee; 
Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 

Rich and full for you and me; 
Merry Christmas; merry Christmas; 
’Round the pretty Christmas tree. 


Fact %g^Re^ardin$ 



rishnas 


OLD ENGLISH CHRISTMASES 


The court celebrations of Christmas were observed with 
great splendor during the reign of King Charles the First. 
The royal family, with the lords and ladies, often took part 
themselves in the performances, and the cost to prepare 
costumes and sceneries for one occasion often amounted to 
ten thousand dollars. During Charles’s reign, and preced¬ 
ing his, Ben Jonson wrote the plays, or masques, for Christ¬ 
mas. The court doings were, of course, copied outside by 
the people, and up to the twelfth night after Christmas, 
sports and feastings held high carnival. 

So important were these Christmas court celebrations 
held by our ancestors, and of such moment were the prep¬ 
arations, that a special officer was appointed to take them 
in charge. To him were accorded large privileges, very 
considerable appointments, and a retinue equal to a 
prince’s, counting in a chancellor, treasurer, comptroller, 
vice-chamberlain, divine, philosopher, astronomer, poet, 
physician, master of requests, clown, civilian, ushers, pages, 
footmen, messengers, jugglers, herald, orator, hunters, 
tumblers, friar, and fools. Over this mock court the mock 
monarch presided during the holidays with a reign as abso¬ 
lute as the. actual monarch. 


CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS ANSWERED 

What Do Candles on Christmas Trees Mean? 

Lighted candles were a feature of the ancient Jewish 
Feast of the Dedication or Feast of Lights. This was held 
about Christmas, and it is likely that lights were twinkling 
in every Jewish house in Bethlehem and Nazareth at the 

191 


192 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 


time of the birth of Christ. This custom was probably 
merged into the Christian celebration of Christmas. Other 
authorities claim that the candles are a survival of the 
huge Yule candle used as a sign of the light that came into 
the world as prophesied by John the Baptist. 

How and Where Did the Popular Notion Originate That 
Santa Claus Comes Down the Chimney? 

In Germany. It was formerly the custom to have some 
one impersonate Santa Claus and distribute gifts to the 
children in person. Gradually this custom died out, and 
the presents were left for them, generally at the hearth¬ 
stone. As the giver was no longer seen by the children 
some explanation was necessary, and the little ones were 
told that Santa Claus came down the chimney, left their 
presents, and departed the same way. Undoubtedly the 
poem, “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” published in 
the United States in the early days of the nineteenth cen¬ 
tury, spread the myth in English-speaking countries. 

Does Holly Grow All Over the World? Why Is It Used 
at Christmas? 

Holly grows in practically every country in the world, as 
there are more than one hundred and fifty varieties, so that 
some flourish in every climate. The custom of using holly 
at the winter festival is of great antiquity, and it is believed 
to have come from the ancient pagan festivals. It was 
used at Christmas by the early Christians. According to 
tradition holly is the bush in which Jehovah appeared to 
Moses. 

When and How Did Christmas Cards Originate? 

The Christmas cards seem to be an outgrowth of the 
“ Christmas pieces” which were popular from about 1800 
to 1850. The first real cards appear to have been printed 
in London in 1846 by a Joseph Cundall, who admits, how¬ 
ever, that the idea was not his own, but Sir Henry Cole’s. 
The custom did not become popular until about 1862. 






































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